Padmavati Row: Deepika Padukone Calls India Regressive, Subramanian Swamy Says She's Dutch

She came, she saw and she conquered. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been in the industry for a decade and she has beautifully evolved as a performer. So much so, that the most creative person of Bollywood, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has taken her for the third time, for his upcoming film, Padmavati.

Instagram/Deepika Padukone

When she forayed into Bollywood, Deepika never imagined she would be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine.

(Also read: 20 Times SLB’s ‘Padmavati’ Landed Into Trouble & Amassed Controversies Before Its Release)

Now, as she prepares for the release of epic drama Padmavati, the actress is confident the movie will tide over the controversy, hit the screens and win a "bigger battle" for the industry.

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“As a woman, I feel proud to be a part of this film, and to tell this story, which needs to be told. And it needs to be told now,” Deepika, who plays the title role in Padmavati -- Bhansali’s professed tribute to the sacrifice, valour and honour of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati -- told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Doubts on the extent to which the National Award-winning filmmaker has fictionalised the story, has led to a spiraling controversy with politicians, organisations and individuals raising a finger at Bhansali for "distorting history" and demanding that the release of Padmavati be stalled. Deepika is convinced the movie will release, as scheduled, on December 1.

"It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed," she said, commenting on the hullabaloo the movie is causing pre-release.

"The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film," said Deepika, adding that the film industry's support symbolises how "this is not about Padmavati... We're fighting a much bigger battle".

(Also read: Rani Padmini’s Life Has Been Shown In A Wrong Manner In Padmavati, Claims Queen’s Descendant)

Padmavati marks the third film that Deepika has worked in under Bhansali's direction after romantic crime drama Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and historical drama Bajirao Mastani.

And now the ever controversial Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has spoken on the matter. As the Padmavati debate ignites more fire, Swamy takes a dig at Deepika Padukone and tweets this.

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And when someone pointed out that she's Dutch, Swamy was quick to point out that she shouldn't interfere in this debate as Deepika is not an Indian.

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?Speaking with CNN-News18, Swami said the actor had no right to give a lecture on regression, adding, "I am told the actress is not even an Indian citizen, she's Dutch."

For the uninitiated, Deepika was born in Denmark and holds a Danish passport.