Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ was the biggest blockbuster of 2007, which launched the career of Deepika Padukone. She was an overnight star and sensation, and her introduction scene in the film on the red carpet of her film premiere may have played out in real after the success of this reincarnation drama. 

Barring Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Love Aaj Kal’ in 2009, where we saw the potential as a performer, Padukone was barely acknowledged for her work despite attempting genres like thriller (Kartik Calling Kartik) comedy (Housefull), and period drama (Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey). Commercial and critical validation continued to elude an actor who had it all right in her first movie. What was possibly missing?