As ‘Housefull’ completed 16 years on April 30, Lara found herself thinking about more than just the film’s success. While fans remember the laughs and madness, she remembers a much harder reality from the set.
During an interview with NDTV, Lara shared that Deepika Padukone fell seriously ill while filming. It wasn’t just a mild sickness. It was malaria. And not the kind you can ignore.
According to Lara, Deepika was “completely wiped out.” The situation became so serious that doctors had to step in, and medication became part of her daily routine. But the shoot didn’t stop.
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High fever, shivering… and still reporting to set
The film had a packed schedule. With a big cast and multiple scenes planned, delays weren’t easy. And that meant Deepika had to keep working, even when her body clearly needed rest.
Lara described how things looked behind the scenes. Deepika would spend nights dealing with high fever and constant shivering. The next morning, she would still arrive on set.
What made it even tougher? The scenes being shot during that time were emotional. Not exactly the kind you can just breeze through without energy.
Lara recalled that it was visible. Deepika looked drained, exhausted, and unwell. But once the camera rolled, there was no visible dip in her performance.
“Not just a fever”: Lara explains the struggle
Lara made it clear that malaria is not something simple. She pointed out that it’s very different from having a regular fever or cold. It completely drains your energy and affects your body in a big way.
That’s why, for her, what Deepika did during those days stood out.
She said that as an actor, you understand how difficult it is to perform when you’re physically weak. And in this case, it was a serious illness.
Still, Deepika completed her scenes without letting it show on screen.
Quiet, reserved, but fully committed
Beyond that difficult phase, Lara also shared her thoughts on Deepika’s personality. She said people often misunderstand her.
According to Lara, Deepika is not shy. She is simply reserved. Someone who doesn’t always express loudly but stays focused on her work.
Directed by Sajid Khan, ‘Housefull’ released in 2010 and went on to become a major box office success. It featured a big ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Deepika, Lara, Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal, and Lillete Dubey.