In Conversation with Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone
It has been a pretty well laid out road for you ever since Om Shanti Om. How do you feel about it?
Well I am glad. Sometimes when you think that you want to do something in life and then it starts coming through, you start questioning it. But it’s been great. I am completely enjoying myself being a part of this industry and doing some great cinema, working with some great directors and great films.
We saw a very different Deepika in Chandni Chowk to China? How did you manage that change from a subtle to an action filled role?
I think the fact that I have been an athlete somewhere in my life helped. I always wanted to bring out the sporty side in me and make it a part of one of my films or one of my characters and I managed to do that with Chandni Chowk. And I think it really helped because the intensive training that I went through for six months, I don’t think it would have been possible if I wasn’t already athletic. But it was a great experience, especially the training process. My trainers came down from Hong Kong and I have learnt a lot.
We absolutely loved you in that movie.
Thank you
What are some of the forthcoming movies for you?
My next release in Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aajkal. It should release soon, they haven’t decided the date yet but in the next couple of months we should have a date. And right now I am working on a film called ‘Kartik calling Kartik’ which is directed by a new director, Vijay Lalwani and it’s with Farhan Akhtar.
What is your dream role Deepika? One role that you really want to do in your career?
I think as an actor I would like to do different kinds of roles and work with different kinds of directors and do different kinds of cinemas which fortunately I think I am already being able to do. Om Shanti Om, I think was one of the most wonderful launched anyone could have ever got. And the way Farah portrayed me in the film, I don’t think anyone has been portrayed that way, especially a newcomer with the complete retro Indian look and all of that.
But again with the three films that have been released and all the ones that are going to come up soon, each character is different from the other film but I would really like to do a period film. I always wanted to do an action film and I got to do it with Chandni Chowk so now I am looking forward to doing a very ethnic Indian period film.
Do we see you with Ranbir any time soon?
Hopefully
It is commendable how you both manage your relationship so well despite the busy schedules and all the rumours. What is the secret?
Well the secret is about being happy and not letting the world affect you. And I think the fact that we are very happy and comfortable and secure in the space that we are in, so we just let each other be. We are very happy doing our own things.
What are some other works that you are doing apart from Cinema? As a celebrity you can bring about a change in many people’s life, how are you doing that?
Apart from cinema, one thing that I really feel for is the need for health and fitness and to include sports in your daily life. I follow that myself and like I said, I have been an athlete earlier and now to keep up with that I do yoga everyday and it makes a huge difference to me both physically and mentally.
So what I am trying to do is set up an organisation where I can help sports people. In India unfortunately there is an incredible amount of talent where sports people are concerned but there are lack of resources and funds to support these people. So I would really like to do something for that.