Deepika Padukone to star in Vin Diesel’s ‘xXx’?

Deepika Padukone will be in the next xXx film with Vin Diesel if a cryptic photo posted on her social media channels is to be believed.

The Bollywood star sent rumour mills on overdrive on Friday after she posted a photo of herself hugging a man resembling Vin Diesel whose back is turned to the camera. Behind her is the famous xXx logo.

Indian daily Deccan Herald on Saturday reported that Padukone has signed as female lead in the franchise’s next film, tentatively titled xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. The newspaper referred to a post by the star’s publicist on Facebook in which he praised Padukone.

“Am so so proud of this girl. What an announcement... What a journey it has been!!” Anirban Blah is believed to have posted.

Padukone was offered a role in Furious 7, also starring Diesel, a few years ago but had to turn it down due to other movie commitments. Now it looks like the pair has been given another opportunity.

xXx was first released in 2002 and was a box office success despite its critical mauling. The sequel, State of the Union, released in 2005, didn’t fare that well at the box office. But a revival had been in works following Diesel’s new-found draw with the Fast & Furious franchise.

In January last year, Diesel announced on his Instagram page that the film would begin principal photography in the Philippines in December 2015. On October 10, 2015, it was reported that director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, I Am Number Four) will direct xXx: The Return of Xander Cage.