Fans are eagerly waiting for the arrival of 2020 as the first month of the year will see the release of Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak. The film is slated for release on January 10 and ever since the film’s trailer released, fans have been excited for the Deepika Padukone-starrer. The film is all set to show Deepika Padukone in a never seen before avatar. She will be essaying the role of real-life acid attack survivor and the film will narrate the story of Laxmi Agarwal.

Deepika Padukone in Chhapaak

And now, director Meghna Gulzar revealed that Deepika Padukone Padukone was always the first choice to play the role of Malti. In a recent interview, Meghna Gulzar revealed that Deepika Padukone playing the part of an acid attack survivor widens the interest in the film because she is so popular, big and adulated “that you will have her fans who want to come and see it.” When Meghna Gulzar was asked if she banked on Deepika’s star power for the film, the Raazi director said that according to her, using an actor’s star power is the function of promotion and marketing, which is not her.

Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey and Meghna Gulzar at Chhapaak Trailer Launch

“Have I used her craft? Yes,” shares Meghna. Since Chhapaak will clash with Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan’s Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Meghna Gulzar was asked about the box office clash, and the director remains unfazed by the clash because she believes that both the films can find their own audience. Chhapaak is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked in 2005 at the age of 15 and in the film; Deepika Padukone will essay the role of Malti. Chhapaak is being co-produced by Deepika Paduone and it marks her debut as a producer. Chhapaak is set to hit theatres on January 10, 2020.