POV: 5 reasons why I relate to Piku as I grow older!

 As I step more and more into womanhood, Shoojit Sircar's delightful Piku crosses my mind quite often. Here’s why!

Over the years Deepika Padukone has given a plethora of characters ranging from a historical queen to a relatable girl next door. Piku certainly had that girl next door vibe but she was also way more than just that. The reason why so many of us loved that character was because after a really long time, we saw an Indian woman losing her temper on-screen. She had arguments with her father, she was juggling work and home, she was open about her sex life and more than anything she had to have a lot of discussion about poop…. Especially while eating! Piku was such a nuanced portrayal of how complex womanhood can be for daughters who are brought up in an Indian household. During the course of that film, we fell in love with all her imperfections and of course, her cotton kurtis! I so wanted to own one just like her and chill at home like she did. Piku was undoubtedly one of Deepika Padukone’s best roles and maybe it's because she made it look so effortless and calm throughout the film. She was sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan, who were impeccable in their own characters but, they weren’t the ones carrying the film. It was Deepika Padukone taking centre stage and I love how that’s done without making it too obvious.

Also Read: 11 kinds of Deepika Padukone roles that we hope to see more of!

As I'm getting closer in age to Piku, here’s how I can see myself in her shoes!

I fully relate to how she had to take care of her dad like her own child

One of the most relatable scenes in the film was when Piku tells Rana that she has no choice but to take care of her dad even if he is arrogant, simply because he is her father! When she scolds her dad for bicycling his way through Kolkata and eating Jalebi when he is literally as old as one can get, I related hard. As I see my father aging, I cannot help but keep his bad habits in check and scold some sense into him when needed. Both Piku and I are women who are torn between balancing work and parents at this point. The constant calls from home, showing up when it matters and taking care of them even though you’re healing from childhood trauma just sums up what I feel these days.

She taught me to look for a man, not a boy!

Piku showed me it’s not the non communicative finance guy you need to fall for. It’s the one who feels like a best friend, the one you can talk to about anything and everything. The one who will not only show up for me but for my family as well, accept them in all their eccentric ways the way I had to!

Her saved fashion folder on Instagram would be so similar to mine!

Be it her sarees or her cotton kurtis like I mentioned earlier, Piku makes me want to steal her wardrobe STAT! I have always tried to blend comfort with style and all her outfits in the film feel like the perfect attire for my work life. She looks like an absolute boss bitch but also someone who's really confident and comfortable with what she wears.

I have learnt to accept the importance of gut health like she did

Piku had to have multiple conversations with her father about his bowel moments. As bizarre as that might sound, it’s not a very unfamiliar conversation in my house either. Somehow ‘poop’ conversations just casually make it our daily updates. But having said that, as an adult, I have learnt how important it is to be mindful of my gut for my overall well-being. Not just Piku but this movie as a whole starts to make so much more sense now that my stomach can no longer tolerate greasy hotel food!

She gives me major ‘you got this’ vibe and I love her for that!

She has zero tolerance for late latifs and people who don’t give their best at work. The best part is she has no filter when she tells them that they’re not good at their job and I am a lot like that as well. With the 10 things on her plate, she somehow manages it all and gives a little bit of herself to every aspect in her life which is something I have been learning to do in the recent years as well!

Cheers to a poignant character like Piku who makes me feel so seen even 10 years post the release of this film and the happiest birthday to Deepika Padukone who breathed life into this character!

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