Deepika Padukone's loss turns Aishwarya Rai's gain, gets to play Binodini Dasi

After Deepika Padukone turned down Pradeep Sarkar’s Binodini Dasi, Aishwarya Rai has bagged the role of Bengali courtesan-turned-theatre actress-singer, Binodini Dasi, also known as Nati Binodini.

According to reports, Deepika is emotionally drained after Chhapaak and thus wants a break from biopics. Reports suggest that Pradeep has been looking for an actress, who can pull off the 19th-century Bengali courtesan Binodini’s role. Vidya Balan was also approached for the same but due to some reason, she refused and now Deepika has said no. Now, seems like Pradeep has finally found his leading lady and she’s none other than Aishwarya Rai.

Confirming the same, Pradeep told Times Of India, “Aishwarya was always on my mind for the biopic. I did reach out to her a few months ago. In the first narration itself, she liked the story and said ‘yes’ to the project. I seriously think that she will."

About Binodini Dasi:
She is a19th century Bengali courtesan-turned-theatre actress-singer, Binodini Dasi, also known as Nati Binodini, who ruled the Kolkata stage for over a decade, under the tutelage of the famous actor and playwright Girish Chandra Ghosh. Binodini was one of the first people in Kolkata to have aspired to be a producer.

Aishwarya Rai was last seen in Fanney Khan, which bombed at the box-office. According to reports, Aishwarya will be busy this year with lots of projects lined up like Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan, Anurag Kashyap's Gulab Jamun and Shree Narayan Singh's Jasmine Story Of A Leased Womb.

• Deepika Padukone
• Aishwarya Rai