Cocktail 2: Will Rashmika Mandanna take up Deepika Padukone's Veronica as challenge?

There is a strong buzz that Rashmika Mandanna has been signed to play one of the leading ladies opposite Shahid Kapoor in Cocktail 2. Kriti Sanon has also been roped in to play the other leading lady.

The first movie, released in 2012, is considered a milestone film in Deepika Padukone 's career. She played the role of gutsy Veronica so perfectly. Apart from Deeps, Diana Penty was the other leading lady who played the demure character of Diana Penty. Saif Ali Khan played the male character of Gutlu, aka Gautam Kapoor.

Given the plot of the original movie, the sequel is also expected to follow the same storyline albeit with new twists and plots. Since Rashmika Mandanna has been rumoured to be finalized as one of the female leads for Cocktail 2, fans are eagerly discussing which role she will be playing- Veronica or Meera. Deepika Padukone made Veronica iconic. It is the character of a disturbed girl who has been cornered due to bad partners and the failing marriage of her parents.

This is how you make the best out of the opportunities that come your way, cocktail is deepika padukone's film period. https://t.co/lvleRwQA1Cpic.twitter.com/H4shrV1plo

— , (@mastanified) April 1, 2024

She is lovable but a party animal, vulnerable, emotional yet bold regarding her lifestyle. She is the one who brings playboy and flirtatious Saif Ali Khan to her apartment as well as Meera who is a traditional Indian girl ditched by her husband Kunal (Randeep Hooda) in London. While Meera is the cool, calm, traditional lady, it is the role of Veronica that is more challenging and bold. And that is why Deepika chose it over the other and it became a career-defining role for her.

So in Cocktail 2, Shahid Kapoor can be aptly suitable as the playboy-type male lead but will Rashmika Mandanna manage to pull off the character of Veronica which certainly needs a very bold approach? While Rashoo has done some bold and intimate scenes in her recent releases like Animal and Pushpa 2, Veronica is not about a few scenes.

Deepika Padukone in Cocktail. The way she brings up the bitterness and grief of having been betrayed by a close friend is so real. And the way she builds to the breakdown, rather than just gushing tears from the jump is a GREAT example of how to do an emotional scene. Masterful. https://t.co/CAnqcMDGPopic.twitter.com/w2yKLR54zE

— Vimla (@TumhariVimla) May 7, 2023

It is the character of a bold girl who is internally disturbed and vulnerable and a sort of bindhas. If she chooses to play Meera then it would be a safe territory for her having played similar roles before. However, if Rashmika Mandanna chooses to play Veronica it will be quite a test for her. Nevertheless, with a tough actress like Kriti Sanon and a seasoned actor like Shahid Kapoor in the male lead, the Pushpa: The Rule actress will get a lot of opportunities to showcase her talent in Cocktail 2.