Deepika Padukone Steps Away from Acting in The Intern Remake, Continues as Producer

Fans of Bollywood star Deepika Padukone may be disappointed to learn that she has decided to withdraw from acting in the much-talked-about Hindi remake of the 2015 Hollywood hit The Intern. According to a fresh report by Mid-Day, the actress will not be seen on screen in the project but will continue to be associated with it in a different capacity.

Sources told the publication that Deepika, who was earlier expected to take on Anne Hathaway’s role from the original, “will no longer act in the movie but will still be part of it as a producer.” In the Hollywood version, Hathaway played a young CEO who hires a retired man—portrayed by Robert De Niro—as an intern at her company.

The Hindi remake originally had the late Rishi Kapoor stepping into De Niro’s role, but following his passing in 2020, Amitabh Bachchan was brought on board for the part. A source revealed, “This time, Deepika will step away from acting in the film to serve solely as a producer, overseeing the creative and logistical reboot. A new leading lady is being cast to play the part she was once slated to perform.”

Speaking about her decision, the source added that Deepika hopes to “explore her career further as a creator.” The insider continued, “The Intern is the first of five projects she plans to mount in the coming year. She is looking to tell stories that are globally relevant.”

The original The Intern followed 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (De Niro), who joins a fast-growing online fashion start-up as a senior intern. Initially met with skepticism by founder Jules Ostin (Hathaway), Ben’s old-school charm and reliability win her trust, leading to a bond that sees him becoming her trusted advisor both personally and professionally.

Deepika was last seen on the big screen in Fighter, Singham Again, and Kalki 2898 AD, all of which released in 2024. Her upcoming projects include King with Shah Rukh Khan and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.

The actress recently returned from maternity leave after welcoming her daughter, Dua, with husband Ranveer Singh in September last year.