Chhapaak , after this film won’t have the same meaning again. The director has given it a new meaning . This phonetic sound of a splash is heard when acid hits skin. The recipient of the acid is the woman and attacker splashes on her face and leaves with scars and burns for life.
In a society when the woman’s beauty is her super power , then this acid is the boss . But the story is based on Laxi Aggarwal, the real life acid survivor, who is attacked by a stalker when she was only 15. Instead of committing suicide or giving up on life, she choose to file a PIL and fought legal battles for years. Her victory came with the Supreme Court’s order restricting and regulating the sale of acid in India.
In the film, Malti is played by Deepika Padukone is an acid attack survivor, not a victim. The film is based after the seven years of filling the PIL in Supreme Court. As the case moves, Malti hunts for a job but is mostly restricted due to the employers don’t knowing how to work around her reconstructed face. For Instance, the owner of the beauty parlor too rejects her and says, Beauty parlour main beauty na ho toh problem hoti hai.
The film is celebrated and was successful on box-office because Deepika played Malti. She gives her commitment and conviction to the role. We never feel that the superstar is celebrated for her beauty. Her burnt face right after the attack or the face after seven surgeries is brought by Deepika with quiet dignity. Vikarat Massey plays a social activist to ban the acid attack , the case which they ultimately win.
