With the announcement of the film xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Deepika Padukone made the leap to Hollywood in 2017 and threw the Internet into a frenzy. The picture, which starred Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, and Nina Dobrev among others, failed to excite reviewers but did well with the audience. Did you know that Deepika Padukone was set to star in Fast & Furious 7 in 2015, long before Xander Cage appeared?
Yes, you read that correctly.
So, what was the reason for this? The actress, it turns out, turned up the chance to star in the action movie in favour of working with her now-husband Ranveer Singh in Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela. Deepika was said to have auditioned for the role, which was subsequently given to Nathalie Emmanuel.
Deepika had previously stated in an interview with The Quint, “I had auditioned for Furious 7, and they liked me and wanted me to be in the movie, but then Ram Leela happened, and I didn’t have the dates for Furious 7. However, when xXx, which is once again produced by Vin Diesel, was announced, I jumped on board.”
The actress had elaborated on missing out on being a part of a popular franchise, saying, “I have no regrets. I had to figure things out for Ram-Leela here; I couldn’t abandon the process now that I’d made my pledge. I’m pleased with how the film (Ram-Leela) has been received because my hard work has paid off.” Fast & Furious 7 was Paul Walker’s final picture before his death in a car accident.
On the other side, we are grateful that Deepika did Ramleela because it was in that film that Deepika and Ranveer first fell in love.