Interview : Deepika Padukone

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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 tete-a-tete.

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

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

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

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

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

Sawf News Exclusive

Preity P

September 26, 2008 (Sawf News) - While Ranbir Kapoor slogs it out on the set of IAjab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani in Ooty, actress Neetu Singh is eagerly preparing some culinary delights for her son, who turns 26 on Sunday, September 28.

In an exclusive tête-à-tête with Sawf News on Thursday, September 25, Neetu, a former Bollywood heartthrob herself, could not contain her excitement.

Ranbir Kapoor. Photo Credit: Sawf News / File

"Ranbir is in Ooty right now shooting for Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. He is coming to Mumbai on 27th night. For his birthday, the next day, we have organized a get together of few family friends in the evening."

Deepika Padukone, who was recently in the capital filming for Imtiaz Ali's next with co-star Saif Ali Khan, is reported to have returned to Mumbai on Thursday. So is she expected to join the birthday party we asked?

"She is family. She has told us that she will be joining us," Neetu announced proudly.

Is Ranbir aware of this party?

"Yes he is. In fact it was his suggestion to hold it in our house. He always prefers to party home with his close ones around."

Are there any special dishes he has recommended you to make?

"He loves pasta a lot. So that is definitely on the menu list. He has been missing home cooked food for long. He is been away for a month and a half now shooting in Ooty."

What are you gifting him?

"We don't believe in giving gifts in our family. Blessings are the best gifts."

We suspect Deepika will make an exception to the rule, even though she is family but we kept that to ourselves.

Any more special guests from the industry have been invited?

"It's the regular few close family friends amongst which few are from the industry. But my daughter Riddhima and my son-in-law shall be missing this party. They are holidaying in London presently."

Have you been managing Ranbir's career?

"He discusses his projects with us and we offer suggestions. We don't interfere beyond that."

We learnt that recently you called up a mobile service provider and demanded a special mobile number for Ranbir. When they asked for a fat fee for the same you threw a tantrum telling them who you are and spoke about going to their rival company. Eventually they ended up giving that special number for free!

Deepika Padukone is being paid 1 crore

The hot new actress from Shahrukh Khan's home production, Om Shanti Om is reportedly charging 1 crore per movie. The popularity curve of Deepika has recently shot up with the fine success of her debut movie. Bollywood fans across the world nave been bitten by Deepika's beauty, style and poise.

Undeterred by her high price, famous producers in the Bollywood film industry are just running after her to sign this bombshell from Bangalore.

Deepika Padukone dons a Chinese look in 'Chandni Chowk To China'
02nd Sept 2008 12.30 IST
By Agencies

To shape Deepika Padukone ’s features and make her look like a Chinese girl has not been an easy task for the maker of Chandni Chowk To China .

The most difficult part has been acquiring the slanting eyes of a Chinese as Deepika, being a South Indian girl, has got big sharp eyes.

To give a slanting look, her make-up artist has insisted her to stick tapes around her eyes.

Deepika is quoted as saying in a news report, "I don’t know how or why Nikhil Advani thought of a South Indian like me with big eyes to play a Chinese. I play half-Chinese and half-Indian in the film. And to get my eyes to look less big and rounded and more slanted, some special make-up artistes were brought in. They suggested I stick tapes around my eyes."

But horrified Deepika preferred to consult with her doctor before taking this risky step, "My doctors said if I stick those tapes on my eyes for 12 hours a day, the shape of my eyes would change forever. So, instead, we got my make-up artiste Mallika Bhatt to do my eye make-up in such a way that my eyes looked slanting," added Deepika.

Like Om Shanti Om , Deepika will be seen in a double role in ‘Chandni Chowk To China’ that stars Akshay Kumar in the lead. In one half, she will play a Chinese lady and the other half an Indian lady.

Deepika-Ranbir not signing films just for the heck of it
06th Sept 2008 23.00 IST
By Agencies

Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor may be the most sought after couple of Bollywood, but they are not signing films together left and right.

Post the success of Bachna Ae Haseeno and they making their love relationship public filmmakers are eager to cast Deepika and Ranbir together in their films.

Filmmakers like Rajkumar Santoshi , Anees Bazmee and David Dhawan are keen to work with the couple approaching them with their individual projects but Ranbir and Deepika have decided to sign those projects only after analyzing them properly.

Deepika and Ranbir do not want to publicize their relationship and earn projects and do not want to work together to prove their liaison.

Next the couple will be seen disjointedly, Ranbir with Katrina Kaif in Rajniti and Deepika with Akshay Kumar in Chandni Chowk To China .

deep

DEEPIKA QUOTES

"We decided to be open about our relationship and lived to regret it because the more open we were the more our honesty was misconstrued. Our right to privacy was completely disregarded. So we've decided to be less public about our relationship. And...

4 Sep 2008 NDTV.com (20 occurrences)

"I'm going home after three years. It feels really good," said Deepika, who hit the jackpot with her debut film Om Shanti Om.

29 Aug 2008 NDTV.com (15 occurrences)

"I really didn't expect it. I'm really excited. People always used to call me either cute or pretty, but no one ever called me sexy. I take it as a compliment," Deepika said.

13 Aug 2008 NDTV.com (15 occurrences)

When contacted, Deepika said, "I don't know how or why Nikhil Advani thought of a South Indian like me with big eyes to play a Chinese. I play half-Chinese and half-Indian in the film. And to get my eyes to look less big and rounded and more...

28 Aug 2008 India Target (2 occurrences)

In an exclusive interview Deepika said, "I am very happy and I did not expect something like this. I am very happy because this is the first time an Indian is being presented on an international level".

23 Aug 2008 Bollywood Mantra (2 occurrences)

"To be honest, personally I never thought of myself as 'sexy' or 'hot' but if that's the call that people have taken, then I hope I live up to it," she says.

9 Aug 2008 Bollywood Spice (22 occurrences)

"I'm very happy after being voted as the world's sexiest woman as I had never expected this. But I'm happier over the fact that it's the first time that an Indian is being presented on the international platform so I'm very happy," said Deepika.

23 Aug 2008 Times of India (15 occurrences)

But horrified Deepika preferred to consult with her doctor before taking this risky step, "My doctors said if I stick those tapes on my eyes for 12 hours a day, the shape of my eyes would change forever. So, instead, we got my make-up artiste...

1 Sep 2008 Bollywood Mantra (2 occurrences)

"I still can't believe that I have been chosen as the hottest. It feels great to be one of the most sought after, not only in India but also internationally. I really hope I am able to live up to expectations and do justice to this accolade,"...

23 Aug 2008 Times of India (2 occurrences)

During the occasion Deepika Padukone said, "I feel great to be one of the most sought after titles not only in India but also internationally and I sill can't believe that I have been chosen as the hottest among so many deserving candidates. I...

23 Aug 2008 IndiaGlitz (2 occurrences)

DEEPIKA

Two films old Deepika Padukone is shining like a star. Filmmakers have started tagging her as a lucky charm and consider her to be a crowd puller. They feel that her small appearance may prove wonders and may result in box-office success also. Looking at her immense popularity, director Priyadarshan has signed in Deepika for a cameo in his upcoming flick Billo Barber which has Shahrukh and Nana Patekar in pivotal roles.

Actually, it was Priyan who was to introduce Deepika to the cine world but things did not work out accordingly and instead she was launched by Farah Khan in Om Shanti Om. Priyan did not have any ill-feeling regarding missing Deepika but was happy that she was associated with Farah’s film and got to taste success in her first attempt. It was Shahrukh who convinced Deepika to play a cameo in the film which will be produced by his production house.

Talking about his shelved film with Deepika, Priyan said, "Yes, she was being considered for a film called Pirates – about music piracy. But the film didn’t work out. I’m glad Deepika made her debut with a film as successful as OSO, and that too with Shah Rukh." Besides Deeepika, Kareena Kapoor will also be seen in a guest appearance in the movie.

FILM ACTRESS DEEPIKA PADUKONE