Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has spoken about the contrasting acting approaches of Deepika Padukone and Konkona Sen Sharma, recalling her experiences directing the two actors in Chhapaak and Talvar. She described Deepika’s performances as carefully measured and praised Konkona for her ability to move in and out of intense emotional scenes with remarkable ease.
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has offered an insight into what she admires about the acting styles of Deepika Padukone and Konkona Sen Sharma, two performers she has directed in critically discussed films.
Speaking in an interview with Zoom TV, Meghna reflected on her experience working with Deepika in Chhapaak and Konkona in Talvar. While describing their methods as different, she highlighted the control and emotional understanding that both bring to demanding performances.
Meghna Gulzar on Deepika Padukone’s Controlled Approach
Meghna said that Deepika Padukone brings considerable depth to her performances, particularly when portraying emotionally difficult material.
According to the filmmaker, Deepika does not simply rely on an immediate emotional response. Instead, she said the actor appears to instinctively assess how an emotional reaction should be shaped for the camera.
Meghna used Chhapaak as an example. The 2020 film required Deepika to portray the physical and emotional aftermath of an acid attack, including scenes involving trauma and intense distress.
The director explained that while a performer can produce a loud scream spontaneously, creating a reaction that stays with the audience requires something more than volume. In her view, Deepika’s strength lies in combining an initial emotional response with a considered understanding of how that reaction should appear on screen.
Meghna described this process as one in which Deepika allows spontaneity to emerge but then works through the emotion to give it greater impact.
Chhapaak and the Story of Laxmi Agarwal
Released in 2020, Chhapaak was inspired by the life of Laxmi Agarwal, an acid-attack survivor and campaigner who became an advocate for stronger action against acid violence.
Deepika played the lead role of Malti, a character based on Agarwal’s experiences.
The film dealt with the physical consequences of an acid attack as well as issues surrounding rehabilitation, social attitudes, legal battles and the survivor’s efforts to rebuild her life.
For Meghna, the emotional demands of the role made Deepika’s approach particularly significant.
Konkona Sen Sharma’s Ability to Become a Character
Meghna’s recollection of Konkona Sen Sharma focused on a different quality.
The filmmaker said Konkona could make acting appear almost effortless, despite the intensity of the emotions required in a scene.
Meghna recalled shooting a sequence for Talvar in Delhi during extremely cold weather. Konkona’s character had to encounter a body at a mortuary while wearing a nightgown.
According to Meghna, Konkona was wearing a jacket while the team discussed the scene. When filming began, she removed the jacket and immediately moved into the emotional state required for the sequence.
The filmmaker recalled that Konkona’s performance was so intense that it left her with goosebumps.
What particularly impressed Meghna, however, was what happened immediately after the director called cut.
Konkona reportedly stepped out of character almost instantly and asked for her jacket because of the cold. For Meghna, the contrast between the intensity of the performance and the actor’s ability to return to her normal state illustrated her control over the craft.
She said that watching the final shot made it difficult to imagine that Konkona could have delivered such an emotionally charged performance without genuinely connecting with the scene.
Meghna Gulzar and Konkona’s Talvar Collaboration
Meghna Gulzar directed Talvar, the 2015 crime drama inspired by the 2008 Noida double murder case, which involved the deaths of teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic worker Hemraj.
The film examined the investigation from multiple perspectives and explored the uncertainty surrounding the case.
Irrfan Khan played a central role in the film alongside Konkona Sen Sharma, with the ensemble cast portraying characters connected to the investigation and the families involved.
Rather than presenting the case simply as a conventional crime thriller, Talvar focused on conflicting investigative theories and the complexities of the criminal-justice process.
Two Different Approaches, According to Meghna
Meghna’s comments highlight two different qualities she has observed while directing Deepika and Konkona.
Her description of Deepika centres on depth, restraint and the careful shaping of spontaneous emotion. With Konkona, she emphasised immersion, instinct and the ability to enter and exit an emotionally demanding scene with precision.
The filmmaker’s observations ultimately reflect her own experiences on the sets of two films that required their performers to deal with difficult and emotionally charged subject matter.
Meghna Gulzar’s Latest Film Daayra
Meghna Gulzar is currently associated with Daayra, her latest directorial project.
The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles and is currently playing in theatres, according to the supplied report.
With Daayra, Meghna continues her work across films that place strong emphasis on character-driven storytelling and complex emotional themes.
