As the comedy film Housefull celebrates 16 years since its release, actress Lara Dutta has opened up about her memories from the set, sharing a surprising revelation about her co-star Deepika Padukone. In a recent conversation, Lara spoke about the camaraderie among the cast and the challenging conditions during the shoot in Italy.
Filming in Italy: A Family Affair
Recalling the days spent filming in Italy, Lara told NDTV, "We went to Italy and we were like a big family on holiday. And I mean, Sajid Nadiadwala created this environment for us where we were all staying together. And when production is seamless and smooth, then all the issues also calm down... it becomes conducive to working."
Deepika's Battle with Malaria
Lara then made a surprising revelation that many fans may not know. "A lot of people don’t know this, that during the filming of Housefull, Deepika actually felt really sick. She had malaria. And she was absolutely wiped out. So they had to get her a doctor and put her on medication."
Highlighting Deepika's commitment, Lara added, "She was running a high fever all night, shivering and taking medication. And then the next morning, because we had a fixed schedule with multiple actors, she would show up on set. You could see that she was totally drained and wiped out. But she was an absolute professional. She got her work done. There was absolutely no drop in her performance."
Praising Deepika's Professionalism
Lara continued to praise her co-star, stating, "As an actor, you have to give another actor credit for that because I know how difficult it is when you're completely wiped out. Malaria absolutely knocks you out—it’s not like having a cold or a mild fever."
She also spoke about Deepika's personality, saying, "She’s not shy, she’s reserved. She’s very clear and focused on what she needs to do. And when each actor knows exactly what they’re supposed to do and brings their craft to the set, that’s when the magic happens."
About Housefull
Directed by Sajid Khan, Housefull starred Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, and Lara Dutta in lead roles, alongside Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal, and Lillete Dubey. The film went on to become a massive franchise, spawning several sequels.
