CINEMA•ART•THEATRE•BOOKS•FOOD•LUXURY•PEOPLE•FASHION•LIFESTYLE•DANCE•TRENDS•REVIEW lllCINEMA A heady cocktail Confident yet a bit inhibited, Deepika Padukone is no longer 'just another good-looking face' BY MONTY MAJEED Bangalore beauty: Deepika Padukone TARUN VISHWA 64 THE WEEK SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 THE WEEK SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 65 eggy lass' was the adjec - For the longest period On-screen camaraderie: Deepika Anirban Blah of CAA KWAN, the tal- tive that was almost always with Ranbir Kapoor in Yeh Jawaani Hai ent agency that handles Deepika's used to describe Deepika of time, I used to be Deewani portfolio. “Her relatability is the key to Padukone. “There is more socially awkward. I her image in the endorsement circuit. Lto me than my legs,” she cried in an hill as none of her later films did well. Deepika is probably the only female interview, when the media went gaga couldn’t handle a lot Then came the roller-coaster ride of a actor whose appeal cuts across every about her bikini act in Homi Adajania’s of people around me. relationship with Ranbir Kapoor and possible demographic,” says Blah. Cocktail. But the character she por- the story of a tattoo that made more And now with films like Cocktail trayed in the film, the wild party child I didn’t know what to news than her films. What followed and YJHD, Deepika has managed to Veronica, went on to become a mile- talk to them about. was nothing short of a masala flick—a add 'acting skills' to her list of posi- stone. Her next two releases, Race 2 Deepika Padukone high-profile breakup, some ex-boy- tives. But even with all the praise com- and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD), friend bashing on national television, ing her way, she has her feet firmly on became top-grossing films of the year. an even more high-profile rebound the ground. “I, for one, know that all Her latest release, Rohit Shetty's girl’s calling. “I was never the kind who relationship and some more films that what is happening to me now did not Chennai Express, broke all box office stood in front of a mirror and mimicked flopped. just fall into my lap,” says Deepika. “It records by joining the 0100 crore club actors,” says Deepika. “There was no It was not that low a phase profes- came with a lot of hard work. But I am in just three days. Critics are all praise one in my family whom I could accom- sionally, argues Deepika, placing ample not satisfied with my work and I know for her performance and trade analysts pany to a film set. As a family also, we emphasis on the last word. “Maybe the there is a lot more for me to achieve.” have declared that with Sanjay Leela didn’t watch too many movies. But films I did then were not working as Her father echoes her sentiment. Bhansali’s Ram Leela and Rajinikanth's somehow while watching these mov- much as OSO did or what YJHD or “Whenever Deepika has worked hard, magnum opus Kochadaiyaan in her ies, I used to see myself doing the same Chennai Express is doing now, but I she has got her due,” he says. “She has kitty, 2013 belongs to Deepika. things some day.” was never written off as an actor,” she evolved as an actor over the years, with Dressed in a long white and blue Being the daughter of the country’s says. “People never said that I shouldn't every movie she is getting better. But I floral maxi dress, Deepika's 5’9” frame most celebrated badminton champ, home by 4:30, have my glass of milk And then she moved to Mumbai, the be doing films. Even during what you must confess that she has a long way dwarfs everyone in the room. She is Prakash Padukone, however, made it and snack and head to the badminton city of dreams. “We were a bit appre- are referring to as the low phase of my to go before she can even come close elegance personified. Her dimpled almost inevitable that she played the court for my on-court training. Then I hensive about the shift as we were not career, I was being offered so much to some of the great heroines of yes- smile is not flashed unnecessarily. sport. What started as 'something to would come back home, do my home- sure whether she would be able to han- good work. I was working with top teryear.” Nor do her answers flow in easily. She do with my sister after school for fun' work, have dinner and go to sleep.” It dle the pressures at such a young age,” directors like Ashutosh Gowariker and As her manager informs her that she pauses, thinking over the question, changed into a mad, demanding pro- was after her board exams that she got says Prakash. So was she, confesses the Prakash Jha.” is running late for her next appoint- and speaks very little. “I am not a very fessional badminton training, before some breathing space. actor. “It was a trying time,” she says. But it was when director Imtiaz Ali, ment, Deepika stands up to leave, but talkative person,” she says. “For the Deepika could even realise it. “My life Like her character Naina Talwar in “Work doesn't come to you that easily. who hadn't even seen her performance continues to talk. “Life has become longest period of time, I used to be became regimented,” says Deepika. YJHD, Deepika took a three-month You have to wait for the right projects.” in OSO, saw his character Meera Pandit very hectic, but I am not complaining,” socially awkward. I couldn’t handle a “The programme was all set. Wake up break-free trip to her birthplace, Her patience paid off in the form of two in Deepika that her career took a huge she says. “I enjoy every second of it. I lot of people around me. I didn’t know at 4-4:30 in the morning, go for train- Copenhagen in Denmark, at the age of big ads, a music album and the 2006 turn. “Somewhere, even I feel that I am glad that directors trust me enough what to talk to them about. When ing at 5, come back by 7-7:30, be in 16. “I had no agenda whatsoever. I just Kingfisher calender. am so much like Meera,” she says, on to offer the kind of films and roles I am we were shooting for Om Shanti Om school by 8.15, finish by 3:15-3:30, come wanted to experience life being on my Fashion photographer Atul her character in Ali's hit Love Aaj Kal being offered today. I am glad that I (OSO), I couldn't even hold a proper own. I wanted to experience a holiday Kasbekar, who recommended her for opposite Saif Ali Khan. “Confident, haven’t been typecast and I have got conversation with Shah Rukh [Khan]. without having my family around,” she the calendar, remembers Deepika as yet withheld. Sure, still unsure. There the opportunity to be versatile.” She He used to talk a lot to me, about films says. “I took those three months to sit a coltish teenager. He was introduced was a certain vulnerability, a certain pauses and adds, “Sometimes I find it and life, and I just used to listen. Even back and think what I wanted to do in to her through her aunt, the gynaeco- warmth, likeability and relatability hard to digest the fact that I am actually when people appreciated my work, I life. Although I enjoyed badminton, I logist who delivered his twins. “I was that I think Meera's character had that living my dream.” used to doubt my talent.” knew I was not crazy enough about it so struck by her beauty then,” he says. I identify with.” A group of excited teenagers walk up Hard to believe this comes from to pursue it professionally. And, I knew “During that first shoot itself, I knew Arjun Rampal, her co-star in OSO to her and request her to pose for a pic- someone who started modelling at inside me that I was not completely she was destined for bigger things.” and Housefull, feels these very same ture with them. She does so readily and the age of eight and walked the ramp enjoying my life at that moment.” Her professionalism and dedication are qualities are her appeal, and so does they shower her with compliments of for the Lakme Fashion Week at 19. Finally, she told her parents that she her biggest strengths, says Kasbekar. how gorgeous she looks. “I get that a Neither the crowds nor the cameras wanted to do films professionally. Her father agrees. “I am always in awe lot,” she says. “People talk about my have scared her, she says. “It was not “We were not surprised at all,” says of her,” he says. “For a person of her I am always in awe of looks, my clothes, my height, my life. stage fright. I was always interested Prakash. “Right from her childhood, age, she is very focused, organised and her. For a person of But when someone comes up to me and in extra-curricular activities when in we knew she would ultimately choose hardworking.” tells me that they loved me as Veronica, school and was part of every concert, modelling or films.