MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s feet and legs are seriously hurt. But the spirit, as they, is unvanquished. Doing a hardcore Garba, in what could be seen as a situation directly inspired by Hema Malini’s ‘Jab tak hai jaan’ dance in ‘Sholay’, Deeepika continues to dance for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Ram Leela’ on bandaged feet, against doctor’s orders.
A source from the sets of the Garba sequence now being shot, reports, “Deepika’s Garba is not the usual filmy Garba. Dancers from rural Gujarat were flown in to teach Deepika’s her Garba steps. The twirl and swirl of a traditonal Garba could leave even the most seasoned dancers in a swoon. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has specified to his Gujju Juliet that he wants the same dizzying frenzied dance effects from Deepika’s feet as Vyjanthimala in the number ‘Hothon pe aisi baat’ in ‘Jewel Thief’.”
Taking the instruction to heart Deepika has been exerting her legs to a breaking point.
Says the eyewitness from the sets, “The Garba steps required her to spin, jump and fall repeatedly to her knees. In the last few days her feet and legs were covered with abrasions, bruises and cuts. Now Deepika’s legs have wounds in them. These had to be attended to by a doctor who bandaged her feet and advised her bed rest for a week. She can barely walk, let alone dance. But she continues, to dance the Garba on her injured feet, with bandages which are concealed from camera range.”
Apparently the doctors have advised Deepika to quit tormenting her legs and feet, or else face the repercussions.
“But a break would mean a loss of continuity in the dance steps. Seeing her condition Sanjay Leela Bhansali has offered to suspend the Garba until her legs heal. But Deepika won’t hear of it,” says the source.
Deepika Padukone confirmed the above story.
