Rohit Shetty reveals Deepika Padukone got ‘hang of the accent’ for Chennai Express in 4 days, leading to reshoot: ‘Even Shah Rukh Khan sir realized that…’

As a dedicated fan who has seen Chennai Express multiple times, I can attest to the fact that Deepika Padukone‘s performance was indeed extraordinary. However, little did I know about the struggles she faced during the filming of this blockbuster. Rohit Shetty’s recent revelation about Deepika’s initial struggle with the accent and comic timing has added a whole new dimension to my appreciation for her performance.


The 2013 hit movie Chennai Express, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, continues to be a beloved choice among fans, marking Rohit Shetty’s first partnership with this dynamic duo. Looking back on the film, the director disclosed an interesting tidbit about the actress’ role. He admitted that at first, she found it difficult to master the required accent, resulting in a four-day reshoot of the scenes.

After she had become proficient at it, even Shah Rukh Khan conceded that they were now indeed following the correct course, setting the stage for her exceptional showcase.

During a chat with casting director Mukesh Chhabra on Mashable India, filmmaker Rohit Shetty revealed an intriguing tale about collaborating with Deepika Padukone during the making of Chennai Express. At that moment, the actress was dealing with a difficult period in her career, following a series of films that didn’t meet expectations.

The director shared that it took her several days to get accustomed to the flow of the movie, especially focusing on getting the right comedic delivery and accent for her part. However, after four days of filming, she felt comfortable enough to embody the character’s eccentricities, leaving behind her initial concerns. Ultimately, her performance perfectly captured the film’s comical spirit.

He said, “In comedy especially, it takes a while to crack even established actors. We started shooting with Deepika, we shot for four days, and on the fourth day, she started getting a hang of the accent.”

On the fourth day of filming, our DP (Director of Photography) had truly understood the core of the character. This change was noticed, and even Shah Rukh Khan acknowledged it. Impressed by this progress, we decided to re-film the first four days to maintain continuity with her enhanced portrayal.

We worked for four days, but on the fourth day, we believed we had succeeded. Even Shah Rukh sir acknowledged our progress, causing us to redo the past four days’ work. At this point, she started enjoying herself, and that’s when things escalated to a new, higher level, as he explained.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share my personal insights on the creation of “Chennai Express.” Rohit Shetty, the director, had an extraordinary journey bringing this blockbuster to life. Originally, we aimed to remake “Angoor,” but fate had other plans. A forgotten script from 2008 caught his attention, a story initially written for a younger lead. However, with a stroke of luck and a keen eye for opportunity, he transformed it into a role that perfectly suited Shah Rukh Khan, our beloved superstar, who was then an older protagonist. This serendipitous collaboration resulted in the enchanting tale we all know as “Chennai Express.

In response to the updated idea, SRK enthusiastically proposed teaming up, no matter what the project might be. Later on, he played a crucial part in fine-tuning the script, making sure it was flawlessly polished. This collaborative creativity led to the blockbuster movie that fans still adore today.

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2024-11-15 15:38