Did Deepika Padukone beat Alia Bhatt for Saina biopic?

It seems there’s a virtual toss-up between Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt to essay the role of Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal in a biopic.

Saina Nehwal is one of India’s biggest names in badminton history and the film is being directed by Amole Gupte, creative director of Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and the director of films like ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ among others.

Amole approached both Alia and Deepika to play the said role, and Deepika has a better chance at the moment because she does play badminton.

Deepika has also been a national level player and her father Prakash Padukone is a badminton legend by virtue of having been the first Indian to have won the All England title.

So Gupte’s team does feel that her father’s presence will also be an added advantage for the actress who is already on a high after a string of hits to her name.

But the film production major who is talking to Gupte to greenlight his production is keen on a younger actress like Alia Bhatt because they feel that she could do a better job with the scenes of the younger Saina.

But it does seem that certain skill sets that Ms Padukone possesses could easily help her clinch the role of the shuttler.

Deepika, too, has been lobbying a bit harder for the role after Saina expressed her feelings to the actress stating that she would be happy if Deepika played the role. Deepika did have a closed door meeting with the makers recently and seems to have smashed the deal.

But in Bollywood, nothing is final until the film is done and dusted.

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