Deepika Padukone steps away from acting in The Intern remake: Report

After years of waiting, the Hindi remake of 'The Intern' is finally moving ahead, but this time, Deepika Padukone won’t be acting in it. She was earlier set to star with Amitabh Bachchan, but has now decided to only produce the film under her company, KA Productions.

A source close to the development said, “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.”

The source added that Padukone is using this shift to expand her creative horizons. “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.”

Based on the 2015 Hollywood hit starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, the Hindi version has been in the works since 2020, when KA Productions acquired the rights.

Originally, the



senior role was to be played by Rishi Kapoor, but after his passing, Amitabh Bachchan came on board. However, the film’s production has faced repeated delays due to the pandemic, Padukone’s maternity break, and scheduling conflicts.

In 2020, Padukone had said, “'The Intern' is an intimate, relationship-driven film, set in and around the workplace; a story that I believe is very relevant to the present-day social and cultural environment. I have been looking for a light, breezy comedy-drama and this story fits in seamlessly. I cannot wait to begin this journey.”

The Hindi remake will be co-produced by Sunil Kheterpal along with Warner Brothers India, KA Productions, and Azure Entertainment. Amit Ravindernath Sharma was attached to direct, with the film initially planned for a 2022 summer release.

The story’s global appeal has also led to other adaptations, including a Japanese TV version in 2022, 'Unicorn Ni Notte', starring Hidetoshi Nishijima and Mei Nagano.