Throwback: Was Deepika Padukone The Reason Behind Vicky Kaushal Being Dropped From Padmaavat?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat has possibly been one of the most controversial films before release in modern times. Granted that the film starring Shahid Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh it managed to find its way into the prestigious Rs. 300 crores club for all the right reasons, but its pre-release controversies will be talked about for a long time to come.

Deepika Padukone, who played the titular character in the film, has always been known for her strong career choices. These have always garnered attention, be it her repeated refusal to star in a Salman Khan film or saying no to working with Vicky Kaushal in this particular Bhansali project.

Back in 2016, rumors hit the headlines that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was keen on casting Masan star Vicky Kaushal in his historical drama Padmaavat. The fact was sometime later confirmed by Vicky himself where he admitted he was approached to play Maharaja Rawal Ratan Singh (finally played by Shahid Kapoor). However, it was reported that Vicky who is today a breakthrough star with films like Sanju, Uri and Raazi was dropped from the project because Deepika Padukone did not wish to romance a new comer in the film.

Some reports also said that Deepika also refused to share screen space with a TV actor who was being considered for the part.

The year of Padmaavat’s release Vicky had confirmed in a chat with Bollywood Life that he got the call for Padmaavat. "We were in talks, but then certain things fall in place, certain things don't fall in place. For me, you need to try and understand, my first film came out in 2015, a small, humble film like Masaan. And if because of that one film, a director like Sanjay Leela Bhansali calls you to his office and tells you that you are a contender for a part in his next, that in itself means a huge deal for me.”

On being asked the part for which he was approached Vicky had said, “It was for the Ratan Singh part(played by Shahid Kapoor). But like I said, this is the case with every next film - there are many actors in the running, then they consider other things to fit the role and finally it just falls into one person's kitty. That's how it goes. But I loved Padmaavat."

The film did not certainly become the cause of any bad blood between the actors who are friendly, but the reports of Deepika’s alleged starry tantrums were not confirmed either.