Naomi Scott From Aladdin Recalls How She Was Mistaken For Deepika Padukone On-Set
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Have you ever had a time when a friend came up to you and said they saw someone who looks almost exactly like you? Well, if you said yes, you’re not alone. It’s something a lot of us have faced in our daily lives. And if you think celebrities are spared from this, you’d be wrong. Many celebrities share striking resemblances and often their fans will make collages comparing them. In the case of Naomi Scott, she was mistaken for Deepika Padukone while she was shooting for her film, Aladdin. The talented Hollywood actress played the lead role of Jasmine in the Disney feature. Here’s what she revealed to news sources during an interview:
A Huge Fan
During the interview, Naomi admitted to how she was a huge fan of Deepika in the song Nagada Sang Dhol from her film Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ramleela. When quizzed if any Bollywood actress was an inspiration for her character of Jasmine, she recalled a funny incident that occurred on the set of Aladdin. Naomi spoke about how the cast and crew were all Americans and had no clue about Bollywood and how it functioned.
Naomi spoke about how one time during a break, she was playing the song Nagada Sang Dhol and how one of the crew members approached her and asked if she was the lead. Yes, this cast member mistook her for Deepika Padukone! Naomi joked that she didn’t bother correcting the crew member and admitted that of all the women to be compared to, Deepika Padukone was at the top of her list. Naomi elaborated that she thinks the actress is pretty beautiful. Although Naomi is a Hollywood actress, she is of Indian descent on her mother’s side and has origins in Uganda.
Aladdin And Its Connection To Bollywood
The makers of the film were looking for a woman of Indian origin to cast for this role as they wanted the film to be as authentic as possible. Before Naomi was selected to play the role of Jasmine, SOTY 2 actress Tara Sutaria was also in the running. Aladdin was directed by famed director Guy Ritchie and ended up being a major hit at the box office. Well, we’re glad they stuck with Naomi, as her performance was praised by critics all across the board. Critics added that Naomi was a perfect revamp and gave the character of Jasmine a more 3D human life feeling. In the literal sense, since she is the first Indian-origin woman to play Jasmine in a live-action film.
Naomi even managed to bag a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Sci-Fi/Fantasy as well as a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her vocal skills in the song, Speechless was praised and many believed she was given a true chance to shine through the song. The actress also won praises for her more “feminist” and realistic approach towards the character of Jasmine. Rather than being shy and demure like the previous iterations of Jasmine, Naomi comes across as bold and more worldly. She was praised for giving the character an ambitious and driven personality while still keeping her dignified and princess-like. No wonder the film grossed over 1 billion dollars at the box office!
During the shoot of the film, Will Smith, who played the role of Genie asked Ritchie to adopt a “Bollywood approach” of aesthetic for the film. He insisted that they shoot the film with some “full Bollywood flavor”. The actor’s magic clearly worked and Aladdin garnered rave reviews.
You Win Some, You Lose Some
Besides Aladdin, Naomi has also acted in the reboot of the film Charlie’s Angels. She acted alongside Hollywood bigwigs like Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Stewart, and Djimon Hounsou. However, the film failed to perform well at the box office and many fans weren’t impressed by the storyline. Although the film wasn’t much of a success, the actresses were praised by critics for their sense of bonding and sisterhood. The director of the film, Elizabeth Banks stated during an interview that, “I was proud of the film despite it grossing below expectations.”
Unlike her Bollywood doppelganger, Naomi is notorious for being extremely private about her personal life. The actress has been married to her long time partner, English footballer, Jordan Spence since the year 2014 and the pair were dating for four full years before that.
As an Indian raised in a foreign country, Naomi has often reflected over her Indian heritage and spoke about how watching the film, Bend It Like Beckham inspired her. The film, which featured an Indian girl in the lead was the first time she saw South Asian representation on Western screens. The actress is a firm advocate of ethnic representation and believes it can make a world of a difference to a child’s life. Do you think Naomi and Deepika look similar? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
