Vikrant Massey has been signed on for Meghna Gulzar’s biopic, Chhapaak. The film, based on the traumatic and inspiring story of acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal, has the actor play her love interest, Alok Dixit, along with leading lady Deepika Padukone.
‘Meghna ji never shies from commenting on social issues. This will be an altering film because it stands up against acid attack as a crime, and she has critiqued it with gumption,’ quotes Massey who is very much excited to be a part of Gulzar’s vision. He also points out that his notable works have been helmed by women and believes that women he has worked with have notable power and have been instrumental in changing the course of his career.
Honoured to be part of #Chhapaak! Thank you @meghnagulzar Ma’am for giving me this opportunity & believing in me. Looking forward to working with the supremely talented @DeepikaPadukone 🙏🏽
— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) December 19, 2018
Deepika, who had earlier called Massey to congratulate him for his work in A Death In The Gunj, welcomed the actor in her debut production and is looking forward to working with him.
Welcome to the team @masseysahib !!!Thrilled to have you on board!!!❤️ https://t.co/E2Vlz6scjx
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) December 19, 2018
Gulzar told that she chose Laxmi Agarwal’s story, the most known acid fighter because it gives her the scope to tell a larger story about acid violence in India. The case had a socio-medical and legal impact while her story has been the most relevant where the legislation on acid-attack violence, compensation for victims and things like medical advancement threw some light and created serious concerns in the country.
‘The cast is slowly coming together. Vikrant is somebody I’ve wanted to work with since Raazi, after seeing him in A Death in the Gunj. In the film, he plays a North Indian boy who used to be a professional before he decided to become an actor, then, started a campaign against acid violence which is how he came to meet Laxmi in real life. I speak for both Deepika and myself when I say that we are both really excited to have Vikrant play this part,’ says director Meghna Gulzar regarding Massey’s selection.
Vikrant Massey, the versatile actor has been seen in many movies and series and has been applauded for his work; his credits include Amazon Prime Video’s Mirzapur and Konkona Sen Sharma’s A Death in the Gunj (2017) and Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Half Girlfriend and many more. We are very excited to see the fresh pairing of Padukone and Massey for an incredible and inspiring movie- Chhapaak, which is dated to go on floors in the month of March.
Laxmi Agarwal was 15 when, in the year 2005, she was attacked while she was at the bus stop in Delhi by a 32-year-old man whose marriage proposal she had turned down. She is now a prominent advocate for the rights of acid attack survivors and campaigns to restrict the sale of acid, successfully India has banned on the sale of acid since last 5 years and yet the attacks take place. In 2014, she was given the International Women of Courage Award in The United States of America.
The film is expected to go on the floors in the third week of March and will be primarily shot in Mumbai and Delhi.
The film is expected to go on the floors in the third week of March and will be primarily shot in Mumbai and Delhi The film is expected to go on the floors in the third week of March and will be primarily shot in Mumbai and Delhi
