'This time, she will...' After Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit, Deepika Padukone EXITS the Intern Remake? Here's why
Deepika Padukone was initially slated to star and produce the Bollywood remake of the English film The Intern , which was first announced in 2021. At that time, the makers intended to finish the production quickly and release the film the very next year. But now, nearly five years later, with a slow progress and minimal updates, new rumours are that Deepika is no longer part of the film. Why Deepika Padukone steps away from acting in The Intern Remake?
A source close to Mid-day revealed that the actress has quit her home production and a new leading lady will be replacing her. She will now serve as the sole producer of the film, what is being called a 'creative and logistical reboot' of the business. The source was quoted saying, 'This time, Deepika will step away from acting in the film to serve solely as a producer, overseeing the creative and logistical reboot. A new leading lady is being cast to play the part she was once slated to perform.'
The production will be solely under Deepika Padukone's leadership, and casting for the new female lead is already underway. As per the same report, this choice observes a significant shift in her professional path. 'The Intern is the first of five projects she plans to mount in the coming year. She is looking to tell stories that are globally relevant,' the source added. Well, Deepika hasn't made any official announcement yet. Deepika Padukone and Rishi Kapoor were initially expected to play…
Deepika Padukone was earlier expected to play Anne Hathaway's role portraying a woman who hires a retired man, played by Robert De Niro in the 2015 original. Late actor Rishi Kapoor was initially approached to play this role, but after his demise in 2020, Amitabh Bachchan came on board.
New Mom Deepika Padukone has been decisive to be more selective with her films and spend more time with her daughter, Dua. Earlier reports created a stir about her stepping away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit. Meanwhile, she remains committed to her other big-banner projects such as King , opposite Shah Rukh Khan, and an upcoming Telugu film, opposite Allu Arjun, which will be directed by Atlee.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Better than Bipasha Basu': Mrunal Thakur's old remark goes viral. Netizens say: ‘No wonder Dhanush…'
Mrunal Thakur has unexpectedly found herself at the centre of controversy after an old interview clip with her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit Taneja began circulating on the Bollywood-focused subreddit, BollyBlindsGossip. The resurfaced footage, originally meant to be lighthearted, has sparked heated discussions because of remarks she made about Bollywood star Bipasha Basu. In the throwback exchange, Arjit playfully challenged Thakur to perform a headstand. She jokingly suggested he should sit while she would balance herself on his head. When Arjit then pushed her to attempt push-ups, she quipped that he seemed interested in marrying a woman with a strong, muscular build. Arjit agreed he would prefer someone physically toned, which prompted Thakur to respond that he could choose Bipasha Basu for that reason—adding that she believed herself to be a superior actress compared to Basu. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program "Listen, I am far better than Bipasha. Okay!" she told Arjit. The online reaction has been far from forgiving. One Reddit contributor praised Bipasha's height and confidence, stating that women who criticise her often do so out of insecurity because they cannot match her charm and appeal. Another argued that Bipasha's striking looks, tall stature, and assured personality make her a target for envy—particularly because she embraces her dusky skin tone. The commenter compared this dynamic to how certain white women may feel threatened when women of colour receive admiration for their beauty. Some users went beyond the interview, recalling past impressions of Thakur. One cited her conduct on the reality show Nach Baliye, describing her as unnecessarily harsh and judgmental, claiming that despite projecting an image of change, her underlying attitude remains the same. They also mentioned her appearance on the BeerBiceps podcast, where she allegedly came across as trying too hard to seek male validation. Adding to the chatter, another user linked the resurfaced clip to ongoing rumours about Thakur's supposed relationship with Tamil star Dhanush, suggesting that her personality might explain his presence in her life. " No wonder Dhanush sath kyu hai ," read the remark. A few viewers who had seen the full interview claimed the unreleased parts were even more controversial, alleging that Thakur mocked Bipasha for having a muscular, 'manly' physique. Professionally, Thakur's most recent work was in the comedy-drama Son of Sardaar 2 , where she starred alongside Ajay Devgn. Despite a substantial budget of Rs 150 crore, the film underperformed at the box office, managing to earn only Rs 50 crore, adding another layer of mixed attention to her public profile. Do you want me to also create a more biting, gossip-magazine-style rewrite for this so it feels even more sensational? That would really amplify the controversy angle.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Regional content players struggle with low advertising rates, unfavourable algorithms
Regional content is booming across audio, and video streaming platforms. But for many small players, the growth wave hasn't translated into fair value or visibility. Despite the surge in hyperlocal, regional-language content across audio and video platforms, smaller creators producing such films, shows, and music say they remain constrained by industry norms that favour mainstream languages like Hindi and English. A key hurdle: ad rates. CPMs (Cost Per Mille, the cost an advertiser pays for 1,000 impressions) for regional content are usually lower, and smaller creators have little negotiating power. Platforms often offer standard rates, leaving them as 'price takers, not price makers." Adding to the challenge, algorithm-driven platforms such as YouTube and Meta determine revenue largely on performance metrics — watch time, clicks, and ad returns — rather than on direct deals or custom rates. These algorithms optimise for engagement, but don't always account for the nuances or loyalty of niche audiences. 'CPMs for regional content, especially from smaller language markets like Odia, are significantly lower than those for English or Hindi content," said Kaushik Das, founder and CEO of Odia-language platform AAO NXT. 'The platforms operate on demand-supply economics, and because advertisers aren't always educated on the depth or loyalty of regional audiences, the value ascribed to our content remains limited." The promise of the internet is that it's democratic, but in practice, it often reinforces existing hierarchies, he added. Smaller players compete with global budgets, paid promotions, algorithmic bias, and big influencers. Without alliances or paid boosts, getting discovered is an uphill battle. 'Negotiations are minimal unless you're a large network or aggregator. Most of us are price takers, not price makers. We try to build value over time by providing engagement metrics, but the uphill climb is real, especially when you're speaking in a language that isn't algorithmically prioritised," Das added. Penalised for being niche Several regional players say the challenge is that they are often penalised for being niche. Algorithms tend to reward volume and velocity over depth of connection, skewing visibility toward larger creators and trending genres. 'Technically, everyone can upload and distribute content. But in practice, discovery is a major challenge," said Vicky Rajani, director of Sai Digital Broadcast Media Pvt. Ltd and owner of Sindhi OTT SINDHIPLEX. 'Algorithms are skewed toward engagement-heavy or viral content, which inherently favours larger creators, trending genres, or language groups. Algorithms prioritise watch time, click-through rate, and ad performance — metrics that aren't always in favour of culturally rich but non-mainstream content." Rajani added that 'algorithm fatigue" can set in quickly: if initial videos underperform, future uploads receive fewer impressions, creating a vicious cycle. Income and advertiser bias Rajat Agrawal, COO and director of Ultra Media & Entertainment Group, which operates Marathi OTT Ultra Jhakaas, agreed that demand for Indian regional languages is limited compared with global ones like English. Advertisers are also more willing to pay for audiences with higher disposable incomes — a challenge for some Indian regional demographics. Further, creators in finance, technology, and beauty niches tend to earn more globally, while entertainment or general lifestyle content may have lower CPMs. Entertainment industry experts point out that the sheer volume of content on platforms can make it difficult for creators to stand out and reach their target audience. Also, audiences are scattered across multiple platforms, making it challenging to reach them effectively. Platforms may also impose limitations on content formats, lengths, or types, restricting creators' ability to reach their audience. At times, algorithms can be opaque, making it difficult for creators to understand why their content is being demoted or not shown to their audience. The nature of algorithms is such that they are constantly evolving, and changes can negatively impact content visibility and reach. Additionally, algorithms can have biases or flaws that unfairly penalise certain types of content or creators. 'The biggest hurdle is breaking through the noise. Algorithms on platforms like YouTube and Meta reward content that is already performing well. This creates a loop where popular content keeps getting more visibility, while new or small creators struggle to get noticed. Once you do get that reach and the content connects with people, the growth can be rapid. But it all starts with reach, and getting that first push is the toughest part," said Ujjwal Mahajan, co-founder, Chaupal, a platform specialising in Punjabi, Haryanvi, and Bhojpuri content.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
John Abraham reveals secret of ‘scandal-free' marriage with Priya Runchal, says they won't attend Bollywood parties: ‘I get up at 4 am, read world news'
John Abraham and his wife, investment banker Priya Runchal, rarely make public appearances and are known for keeping their private lives away from the spotlight. In a recent interaction, John admitted that their decision to maintain this privacy is a 'conscious' one that both he and Priya have agreed upon. He also shared why his marriage stays out of the news and how he has managed to remain free of scandals throughout his career. During an interview with India Today, John revealed that he has never had an agent or publicist to push stories about him into the media. He spoke about his marriage, 'That is a very conscious decision, because my films have nothing to do with my personal life. In all these years, I have never had a publicist or an agent. I don't have someone who is manufacturing stuff for me out there. So the minute my films are over, I become not newsworthy and I go into my shell and I come out to speak only when I have something relevant to say.' John added that when he is not working on films, his focus shifts to other passions — particularly his football academy in Shillong. He also spends his time writing scripts. The actor also spoke about how he and his wife's low-profile lifestyle aligns with his disciplined routine, which includes avoiding Bollywood parties. He explained, 'I never went to parties even before I got married. I have always chosen to stay out because the music is too loud and I don't drink alcohol. I have a problem with alcohol because my father loves his single malt. Also, I sleep very early and I wake up at 4-4:30 am. I read as much as I can after waking up and I devour world news.' In an earlier interaction with The Hollywood Reporter, John revealed that he has not missed a gym session in the last 35 years. He said, 'I don't do it for narcissistic reasons as if I need to have a six-pack for a particular film. I have it, great! I'm fit, great! I have got a migraine issue. So, on those days, I'll do lighter weights. But I won't not go to the gym. There's a special ecosystem of people that really get what I'm doing and that's who I cater to.' On the work front, John will next be seen in Tehran, directed by Arun Gopalan. The film, based on the 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats, will premiere on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025.
