Deepika Padukone All About OF Deepika

Deepika, four films and four different actors, how has the journey been for you till "Love Aaj Kal"?

The journey has been wonderful. Everyone's way of acting, style of acting, approach is different. It's been a great journey so far and in two out of the four films, my co stars have also been producers.

Saif complimented you by saying that you bring the same kind of earthiness on screen to him what Rani Mukherjee does. How do you feel about that?
(Blushes) I think Saif is being extremely sweet. It is a huge compliment coming from someone like him. I have learnt a lot from him. The fact that he is so experienced his way of acting is so natural that I really look up to his kind of performance. Right from 'Dil Chahta Hai', I remember all his performances. I have been a big fan of him as an actor and I am glad about what he thinks.

All your co stars except Ranbir have been quiet senior to you. Were there any opinion differences or did you feel any

kind of generation gap?

No. I don't feel any age difference but just felt secure because I felt I was with experienced people. It has been a great experience for someone like me who has absolutely no background from this industry and no sort of experience even on a film set. To be around people who are so experienced is wonderful. They are "giving" people, very supportive and I have been very fortunate to be around them. That has made huge difference to all my performances.

What do you have to say about Imtiaz Ali as a director?

Genius! He is just so sensitive to people that as a director it is nice to see him understand my approach. Saif and I are different as actors and it was nice to see him bring the two of us together and get a good performance out of us.

Can you put more light to your character in the film "Love Aaj Kal"?

I am playing the role of Meera and she is very grounded, sensitive and practical. She is a nice blend of love aaj and love kal.

How similar do you feel are you to Meera in real life?

I should say, a lot. As an actor two things can happen…..either the character can be completely different from what you are or it can be very similar to the person you are. It is spooky how similar Meera is to me. I keep teasing Imtiaz that he has been following me around. I think ninety percent in the film Meera reacts the way I would in real life.

Saif is said to be a brat on sets. Did he play any prank with you? How was your equation with him?

Saif was very kind and polite towards me. He probably thought I would run away or something if he did anything like that with me. He has been very prim and proper. Somewhere that 'Nawab' and the London education that he has had were at its best.

Do you think it has become a trend to use the "ill est" words on screen with the beep?

For how long do we want to see two people are kissing and a flower coming on screen? Let's get real. We have all moved on and every one is aware of these things. Kids are also aware of such things. We have tried to make a very real and relatable film so we have used it and we have it.

How was it working with Rishiji and Neetuji in "Love Aaj Kal" who are so experienced actors?

Saif has more scenes with Rishiji while I have only one scene. It is nice to see the kind of passion and the kind of commitment Rishiji has to do what he does. To be involved with not only his character but to be involved with the entire scene and see him encourage everyone else was amazing.

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She is only three films old. But already the Shantipriya of OM SHANTI OM has proved that she is the uncrowned queen of today's Bollywood. Politically correct, she is, Deepika talks to our correspondent about her inward journey during the shoots of LOVE AAJ KAL.
Your fourth release is just round the corner...

And I am too excited about it. This film LOVE AAJ KAL is the first film where I could actually relate to the character I am playing. When Imtiaz (Ali) narrated the script to me for the first time, I knew then and there that I can't afford to let go this film. All I had to do was to walk into the sets and play myself.

You and Saif are looking too cool in the trailers. What's behind this great chemistry?

I really don't know. But one thing I can assure that when you see the film, you will forget Deepika and Saif, and automatically focus on Meera and Jai.

Are you always on for love stories?

I am addicted to love stories. I love everything about love stories-the emotions, dream sequences, love notes, sweet nothings...I am a romantic at heart. And this film is too close to my heart.

Don't you feel lucky that you are working with big names at the very beginning of your career?

Definitely. Started with Shah Rukh Khan, then Ranbir (Kapoor), Akshay Kumar and now Saif Ali Khan. Thankfully directors and producers, now-a-days, are ready to cast newcomers in equally challenging roles.

Why is that you are always politically correct?

See, I am not here to backbite and gossip. I am not saying that I am blind to what's happening around me in the industry, but I don't need to be a motor-mouth.

We heard that you refused Hrithik Roshan-starrer KITES?

Yes. The other day, a senior film journalist came to take my interview. When she heard that I refused KITES, she was a bit disappointed. But I told her that my character was a slightly bold one and I won't feel comfortable with it.

So you are not comfortable with bold scenes?

Depends on how bold they are. I know my limits and won't go beyond that.

What's keeping you busy these days?

I have Farhan Akhtar's KARTHIK CALLINGKARTHIK and Sajid Nadiawala's HOUSEFULL.

We heard that your relationship with Ranbir Kapoor was on the rocks a few days back...

That's a media-created rumour. Ranbir and I are very much together. Just because we don't roam around hand-in-hand doesn't mean that we have broken up. We treasure our relationship and don't want make it public.

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Sreya Basu, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network
With her very first film OM SHANTI OM she has given Dard-e-Disco to millions of hearts. Right now undoubtedly she is the hottest face of Bollywood. Recently we caught up with Deepika Padukone in an exclusive tête-à-tête.

Q-So post OM SHANTI OM producers are running after you with bagful of roles and sackful of moolahs?

A-Yes I am getting my share of attention and quite a number of roles as well. But I have a long way to go and need to groom myself constantly to meet the expectations of my producers, directors and fans.

Q-Don't you think that your success was assured the moment you signed your first film opposite the box office Badshah Shahrukh Khan?
Q-Don't you think that your success was assured the moment you signed your first film opposite the box office Badshah Shahrukh Khan?

A-I am really lucky that every thing fell in place perfectly in my very first step to Bollywood. Of course I will always remain indebted to director Farah Khan and Shahrukh for considering me for the film. But give me some credits as well (laughs).

Q-In what ways have the film OM SHANTI OM affected your private life?

A-I am still to register all that has happened to me post OM SHANTI OM. The overnight fame, awards, millions of fan mails, interviews being taken, being called the 'Bollywood sensation'...all these is new to me. Despite being the daughter of badminton champ Prakash Padukone, and being a model for quite some time I was not used to so much media exposure and attention.

Q-You too used to play badminton like your father. So why did you suddenly change the stream?

A-Initially I followed my father's footsteps and started playing badminton. Most people do not know that I even played badminton at the national level. But after sometime I realized that my heart is on modelling. But I never thought of becoming an actor at any point of my life. It was only from my second year in modelling that I started getting film offers. But I was only 18 then and decided not to jump into films till I am serious about it.

Q-You are only 22. Don't you miss doing normal things a girl of your age does?

A-I moved out of home in Bangalore to work in Mumbai at a tender age. So that naturally has made me a lot more mature than my contemporary girls. But there is a price to be paid for every thing. I do normal things and have a life outside the studios as well.

Q-Your off-screen chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor is the most talked about affair at present. Any comments?

A-This is the first time I am truly in love and hence we decided not to hide our feelings from public. Being in love is the loveliest of feelings. Besides I am not a person who is frivolous in relationships.

Q- But there were news of your multiple affairs. Even you broke off with Ranbir once before restarting your relationship!

A-As I told you this is the first time I am in love. Having lunch with someone doesn't mean that I am having an affair with that person. As for Ranbir and my relationship, initially we were good friends. But the media linked us together when we were not even sure of our feelings for each other. Before we could spend enough time together to sort out things we got busy with our debut films and hence parted. It was only during shooting together for a flick BACHNA AE HASEENO in Australia that we got the chance to know each other and fell in love. But there is no baggage from the past, as we never parted bitterly. We started our relationship like two new people.

Q-So when are you getting married?

A-Not in the next three years, at least.

Q-Kapoor bahus are not allowed to work in films. So if asked will you quit your career for Ranbir?

A-It depends on the situation. Right now neither Ranbir, nor his family wants me to quit my career. So abhi se sochne ka kya fayda!

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You have a phenomenon 2009 ahead of you and life seems too good to be true. But did you have any resolutions this New Year's eve?

A. No resolutions really, every year I hope that the following year is as exciting as the previous year and I am very happy with the way my professional life is going and I just hope that this year is the same for me. I always hope that I remain happy because I think happiness is very importan
You celebrated your birthday some days ago. And if reports are anything to go by, you visited a temple in Mumbai. Did you party at all?

No, partying is not my thing, I preferred spending time with my family and yes I did visit a temple in the morning, that's generally how I start my day on my birthday and generally do things that I enjoy doing, so I spent time with my family and also worked a bit, so I managed to balance out both.

Any birth-day wishes?

Well...what better way to start the year with a big film? My film CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA is going to release soon, so I hope that it does really well.

CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA was your first action movie. Was it tough to film?

Yes, it was tough, but I am glad that I went through the extensive training - physically and mentally it was important. So I was well prepared.

What training did you undertake prior to filming?

I trained for six-eight months. My trainers came down from Hong Kong and trained me in all the cable work and wire work and all the sword fights and all those things.

The trailers of CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA seems very promising. What made you choose this venture?

This project was offered to me before OM SHANTI OM released. And the fact that I was always very keen to do an action film and the fact that is sounded like a very big and exciting project , the fact that Nikhil Advani was directing it and it was opposite Akshay Kumar and the fact that I have a double role, so what more could I have asked for?

You are playing a double role once again. (After OSO). Do you think opting for double roles gives you more scope to exercise your acting prowess?

I would have considered myself very lucky to have got to do the opportunity of a double role again. It just gives me that much more confidence that my directors and the audience believe that I can carry off different kinds of looks in different kinds of roles. And obviously as an actor it is a lot more challenging doing two roles in the same film. It's definitely not easy and is quite challenging.

You look phenomenal yielding all the sticks, the magical umbrellas ... How difficult was it to pull off all the stunts?

It was quite difficult because I had to train for about six-eight months; I used to train for about eight hours a day. But I think it's all paid off, it was something that I had to do because of the kind of action that was required in the film. And my trainers came down from Honk Kong to train me for the action sequences in the film. I think it has really all paid off very well. The action sequences were all ready before we even started shooting for the film. Once we started shooting everything was all in place and I didn't waste any time learning.

Do you always identify with the roles that you take up on screen? And more importantly, will we see you in a non-glamorous avatar any time soon?

Sure, as an actor I would definitely like to do different kinds of roles and different kinds of cinema.

Can you tell us about some interesting anecdotes while shooting for the CC2C?

For me the most interesting part would be shooting at the "Great Wall Of China." I had always thought that I would end up there as a tourist, but it was a greater experience actually shooting there, and I think with the first film to have ever been shot at the Great Wall Of China.

How was it working with Akshay Kumar? (We hear that you were in awe and a bit intimidated while performing stunts alongside him). How do you rate his stunt quotient?

I wouldn't say intimidated because then that would be taking away credit from him. He's some one who has made me feel extremely comfortable, whether it was on the sets, whether it was scene or whether it was an action stunt. He's made me feel absolutely comfortable and also I give my director credit for that and I would also give myself a little bit of credit for that because I had trained really hard for it. No, I wasn't intimidated. I am just some one who really admires the way he's groomed himself over the years and the way he has evolved as an actor and the kind of cinema that he's doing, I think he's some one who we can all really learn a lot from.

You are considered to be one of the most beautiful/promising faces to hit Bollywood in a long time? Do all the sky-high expectations bog you down?

No, it doesn't. I am here to enjoy my work. I think enjoying my work is extremely important and that's the reason I am here.

Who is your worst critic?

I think myself and my family. I think my family would be most honest with me.

When you see yourself on screen, do you cringe or do you analyze it to pieces?

I do a little bit of both.

How would you best describe Deepika Padukone-the person and the Deepika Padukone - the celebrity?

I don't consider myself a celebrity, I believe that I've had a fantastic up bringing and I believe my parents have kept me really grounded and rooted and my family keeps me rooted. And I hope that success never gets to me. I've seen my father handle success really well and I hope I continue in the same way because I believe that fame and money, all of that are all secondary things. The main thing is to enjoy your work.

With the economic downturn, do you think it's feasible to plan magnum opuses? As an actor, how do you plan to tackle the downturn?

I'll tackle it when I have to; I haven't really faced the situation yet.

You seem to be very picky about choosing roles? Do you consult anybody from the film fraternity before signing on a venture?

Obviously the final decision is mine, but I do have my parents who I always consult before I do a film and I take their advice.

Will we ever see you in a Hollywood venture?

If some thing exciting comes up, why not?

How do you de-stress after a day's hard work and what' the mantra that keeps you going?

I enjoy doing simple things. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, eating simple home food

Tell us something that nobody else knows about Deepika Padukone - the actress

Nothing in particular. I like to believe that I am a very simple person. I like doing simple things, I like spending time at home with my family and friends. And I am extremely fond of chocolate.

Does it rile you up about your personal life being discussed till the cows come home? Are you on/off with Ranbir, are you on/off with XXX, what is your take?

All I can say at this point is that I know it's a part of your profession to be written about your personal life and people are going to keep speculating which is fine as long as I know what is happening in my life and I am very secured and happy in my relationship.

You famously criticized the media for publishing stories about your romantic link-ups. Has this affected your private life and how you conduct interviews?

To me it really doesn't matter; I understand that it's the job of the media to get as much as they can. I understand that it's also a part of the profession that I am in. I know that people appreciate my work and that's the most important thing. I really don't react to these kinds of things when they are written.

How does it feel to be a part of Imtiaz Ali's next venture Production No 1? Were you aware of the tug of war between Saif Ali Khan and the director over who should be cast?

That's really none of my business and decision. I think if Imtiaz has approached me for a film and if he thinks I fit the role then... It was offered to me and obviously I agreed to do it. It's a great script and a great role and I think certain roles are written with certain people in mind. So that's really the director's decision. I am no one to really comment on that.

What are your hopes for 2009?

I hope that my films that release do really well.

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