MUMBAI, 10 AUG

Deepika Padukone has stepped down from her acting role in the Hindi remake of 'The Intern' and will now be associated with the project solely as a producer, the makers said.

The search is currently on for a new female lead to star opposite Amitabh Bachchan, who remains attached to the film.

The project, an adaptation of the 2015 Hollywood film of the same name starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, has faced multiple delays over the years. These include the death of Rishi Kapoor, who was originally cast in the senior role, the Covid-19 pandemic, Padukone’s maternity break, and shifting production schedules.

Industry sources said Padukone’s move signals a broader shift in her career towards producing content with global appeal. 'The Intern' is the first of five productions she plans to back in the coming year.

Casting efforts are currently focused on finding a replacement for Padukone in the role modelled after Hathaway’s character in the original. The actor-producer will also oversee the film’s creative and logistical reboot to bring the long-delayed project into production.

No official statement from Padukone has been issued so far.