Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has worked with some of Bollywood’s most talented actresses, including Deepika Padukone and Konkona Sen Sharma. While her upcoming film Daayra stars Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead, Meghna recently looked back at her experiences working with Deepika in Chhapaak and Konkona in Talvar.
In a recent interaction with Zoom, Meghna spoke about what makes both actresses special performers. While praising their individual strengths, she highlighted how differently they approach their characters and bring emotions to the screen.
Speaking about Deepika Padukone’s performance in Chhapaak, Meghna described her as an actor with great depth. She explained that Deepika can be spontaneous, but she also has the ability to step back and carefully measure her reactions.
“Deepika has depth,” Meghna said, explaining that the actor does not simply react to an emotional scene without thinking about it. According to the filmmaker, Deepika’s strength lies in combining her natural reaction with a thoughtful understanding of the character.
Meghna particularly remembered the difficult scenes in Chhapaak, where Deepika had to portray the trauma experienced by an acid attack survivor. She explained that simply screaming loudly is not enough to make an emotional scene powerful. For a scream to stay with the audience, it needs to come from a much deeper emotional place.
She said that Deepika first allows herself to react instinctively and then thinks about that reaction, which helps her create a more layered performance. This balance between spontaneity and control, according to Meghna, is one of the qualities that makes Deepika’s acting stand out.
Meghna has also worked with Konkona Sen Sharma, who appeared in her 2015 film Talvar. The actress was widely appreciated for her nuanced performance in the film, and Meghna has previously spoken about the importance of strong performers in bringing complex stories to life.
The filmmaker’s comments also highlight an interesting aspect of acting: two talented performers can approach their craft in completely different ways. While one actor may rely on instinct, another may carefully build a character through observation and control. Both approaches can create powerful performances when they connect with the emotional core of the story.
With Daayra now bringing Meghna together with Kareena Kapoor Khan, there is already curiosity around what the filmmaker and actor will create together. Meghna’s appreciation for performers such as Deepika and Konkona also gives audiences an insight into the kind of acting she values—performances that are not just dramatic on the surface, but emotionally layered and deeply connected to the character.
For fans of Bollywood performances, Meghna’s words offer an interesting look at what happens behind the camera and why certain performances continue to stay with audiences long after a film ends.
