Soon after Bipasha Basu’s cigarette issue in Pankh , Deepika Padukone is the latest B-town beauty to develop cold feet when it comes to lighting up on the screen.Deepika was supposed to smoke for a couple of shots in her new project, Karthik Calling Karthik. But the buzz goes that she developed cold feet about it because she doesn’t smoke in real life.”Deepika was surely not enthused about the possibility of lighting up even on screen. She thought those few scenes might entice her to try out smoking in the future,” says the film’s producer Ritesh Sidhwani. “As a good producer, I didn’t want to instill a bad habit in an actor. So, I got organic cigarettes. She was happy with my decision.An actor shouldn’t be forced for such a thing if it can be avoided,” he adds. Organic cigarettes are made of exotic and organic herbs and do not contain tobacco or nicotine.They come with negligibly harmful side effects compared to regular cigarettes.
Some time back, Bipasha’s denial to smoke in Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s Pankh made news.Bipasha had also claimed that since she doesn’t smoke in real life, she won’t do it for a scene unless it’s absolutely necessary.”I refused to smoke for Corporate (directed by Madhur Bhandarkar) too. I detest smoking. At the same time, I have always maintained that if a role really demanded me to smoke, then sure I’ll do it,” she said. Chattopadhyay had to use a trick shot after her denial. A canister jar was placed in front of her which released smoke and it was shot in such a way that when she sings, it seems smoke is coming out of her mouth.Deepika, though, had shot for the drinking scenes in Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal . Adds Sidhwani: “We ordered cigarettes which were free of any kind of tobacco or nicotine.
It has a sweet message in end. Farhan’s character advises her against it and also succeeds in getting her to quit smoking.” Of late, Bipasha and Deepika have probably been the only actresses to develop cold feet over smoking shots. Last year’s Madhur Bhandarkar-directed Fashion showed Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut smoking. Similarly, several Bollywood girls like Kareena Kapoor (Chameli), Rani Mukherjee (Bichoo), Preity Zinta (Chori Chori Chupke Chupke), Manisha Koirala (Company) smoked in movies but never made headlines over it.” Movies shouldn’t glorify or make smoking look cool,” says Sidhwani. “I think filmmakers should be responsible but if a character demands such traits, there’s no harm in it.
It’s all about a film’s need,” adds Sidhwani.Bollywood stunners, though, seem to be in a mood to kick the butt on screen.
