Deepika Padukone speaks out on tumultuous filming of new movie: ‘It was EXHAUSTING’

The Bollywood star, who made her Hollywood debut earlier this year in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, is set to appear in the controversial new drama this December.

The filming process was a hard one; with everything from harrowing scenes to vandals disrupting production.

“Working in Padmavati was an exhausting experience,” she said, according to Times of India. 

“It takes quite a lot to work on a character for nine months constantly round the clock. Certain characters just don’t leave your system.”

Indeed, earlier this month it was claimed that the movie – which has suicide built in to its plot – was particularly challenging for the star’s mental health.

A source told the Deccan Chronicle: “It is not easy to play a character who has to commit suicide, or johar, as it is called.

“And when one is working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, he wants one to feel committed and feel the character all the time.”

They went on: “Sanjay takes his time to shoot every sequence. The build up to the johar scene and the scene itself was rather elaborate. 

“Deepika has already spoken about clinical depression earlier in her career. Hence, she does not want to do anything that will take her back to that space.”

Padukone had powerfully spoken out about depression in 2015, saying: “Overcoming it has made me a stronger person and I now value my life much more.”

Padmavati is out on December 1 in India. A UK release is not yet slated.