Deepika Padukone's 'Piku' shattered my misconceptions about Bollywood, says 'xXx...' director

New Delhi: Bollywood biggie Deepika Padukone has expanded her horizons and ventured into international films with 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'. The film was released two days ahead of its global release in India on January 14, 2017.

The film with Vin Diesel in the lead role and has been helmed by DJ Caruso. The filmmaker recently was in India to promote the film. The team of 'xXx...' received a warm welcome on their arrival to India.

PTI quotes DJ Caruso as saying that he was floored by Deepika's performance in Shoojit Sircar's 'Piku'.

The filmmaker, who recently visited India along with Deepika, compared the Shoojit Sircar-directed film with Alexander Payne's movies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"'Piku" shattered my misconceptions about Bollywood being escapist. It was like an Alexander Payne (The Descendants) movie," Caruso said.

The filmmaker decided to cast Deepika in the third installment of 'xXx' franchise after he saw her audition for a 'Fast and Furious' film and liked her chemistry with Diesel.

"Though she couldn't be part of that project due to scheduling issues. But I liked the chemistry between (Padukone and Diesel), which is why I cast her," he said.

(With PTI inputs)