MUMBAI: Deepika Padukone recently performed some of the most daredevil stunts for Lafange Parindey directed by Pradeep Sarkar but escaped unhurt. She plays a tomboy and will be seen wearing leather jackets and riding bikes, jumping over walls and doing spins and somersaults.

In fact, Deepika’s co-star Neil Nitin Mukesh is finding it hard to match up to her enthusiasm level. However, things went a little too far at Yash Raj Studios last week. While striding across the road with Neil, Deepika was supposed to fall into a deep and wide muddy pit. Neil’s protective instincts became evident when he told her not to perform the dangerous stunt and a body-double was arranged to fall into the deep hole. However, Deepika insisted on doing the stunt herself.

A source says, “Everyone in the unit thought it was too dangerous because Deepika had to walk straight into the pit and fall into the swirling muddy water. Once she fell in the pit only professional divers could help her come out. That’s how deep the hole in the ground was.” Once the camera started rolling, Deepika fell into the pit, pretending it was an accident, and went right to the bottom. Her expertise as a swimmer helped her to hold her breath underwater as divers rushed in to get her out.

Deepika confirmed the incident. “Yes, I did jump into the pit and I had to make it look like an accident so that the scene looked convincing. I had to do whatever it took,” she said.