The last year saw an unexpected change in the Hindi film industry, where big-budget films starring actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan bombed at the Box Office. On the other hand, small budget and female-centric projects worked well. Commenting on the business of cinema in 2018, actress Deepika Padukone said “it really boils down to the script itself”.

On Wednesday, at the launch of the book The Dot That Went For A Walk in Mumbai, the Padmaavat actress talked about the success of women-centric films. “I think it’s amazing and nice for us to say that women centric or female centric films are working at a moment like this when we are talking about female role models. Having said that, when it comes to creativity, we need to look beyond female or male,” she said.

Films like Thugs of Hindostan and Zero, which featured the biggies of Bollywood, couldn’t meet the expectations of the audience. Talking about this, Deepika said, “It is different when you say that Khans’ films didn’t work, but say a film like Andhadhun, that was led by Ayushmann (Khurrana), worked. So, it really boils down to the script itself. But yes, I see a trend that films that are being led by women are doing much better. Also, we are in a place today where directors are changing roles, and that was unheard of. You have a script which has a male protagonist, then suddenly directors are like ‘wait, let me just flip that, let me make that a female protagonist and then go to so and so with the film’. So, you hear of a film that was offered to a male actors two-three years ago, and it is coming back to you now with a female protagonist. It is a huge achievement.”

“No one can blindly say that just because so and so is in the film, let’s go and watch it. I think 2018 has made that clear. Audience has that pulse right from the poster to the promo. They know instantly from the first trailer that goes out, whether they want to go and watch that film or not. Of course, then there are films that may not be sort of trending right from the start, but once they release and over the weekend, the word of mouth helps elevate the film. But yes, gone are the days when you have a big star on a film poster and that film worked,” she added.

On the film front, Deepika will be next seen in Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak. The film is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, and Padukone will be essaying the lead role.