Ranveer is the most compatible person I’ve met No one spells success better than Deepika Padukone. Every man in showbiz wants to work with her. Every woman in showbiz wants to be her. Deepika Padukone has a lot of eyes on her. You could call her the most popular actor in the industry today. It’s a luxury till now enjoyed only by the Khans. That a female actor is getting the same kind of attention speaks volumes about her achievement. But Deepika’s not the one to cash in on the opportunity. Instead of hogging the limelight, she’s taken a much-needed vacation. She’s taken the proverbial step back. Not that she’s in the mood for introspection or career overhaul. She’s simply taking it easy, before she nosedives into the world of exquisite make-up, expensive clothes and 100 crores again. Fact is, big ticket productions like Happy New Year and Bajirao Mastani are in the pipeline. Offbeat cinema like Finding Fanny and Piku are on the cards. Deepika has her long legs planted firmly in all boats. And she’s managing the excruciating task of balancing art and mart with consummate ease. She’s just made showbiz as simple as she makes good looks effortless. It all boils down to the word simple. There’s a consummate ease with which Deepika is passing every test and riding the high wave of top honours. Her success looks natural and therefore as graceful as the beauty of this statuesque young lady. So finally a vacation for you! It’s not a vacation. I’m just taking a break. I just want to be away from all the things… completely cut off. Maybe, I’ll learn a new language or join a cooking class. I’ve been constantly working. I’ve taken a break after three years. Once I return, it’s going to be another crazy year. I’ll begin shooting for Imtiaz Ali’s next then go into Shoojit Sircar’s Piku. And then start work on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani. You had a fantastic 2013. Blockbusters, every possible award… What’s your state of mind? I’m feeling emotionally relieved. The years 2012 and 2013 were emotionally, mentally and physically taxing. I was part of five beautiful films but I never thought these films would happen back to back. I was working round the clock. I loved it. But it was exhausting. It also gave me a chance to become one with the people who work with me. From my maid, my driver, my managers to my hair and make-up team, I realised how important they are in my life. It’s always the stars who walk away with all the credit and limelight but actually it’s the team, which makes a star. I learnt this during the crazy phase. How does it feel to be the number one actress? I’m not a person who looks back. I look ahead. I think what next. It’s great to win awards. It’s a dream to win a Filmfare Award. Every actor aspires to win a Filmfare Award. I won it for my debut film (Om Shanti Om) and six years later I won the Best Actress Award (for Ram-Leela). It’s taken me six years to reach where I am. I worked hard and it paid off. Has life changed for you? It’s difficult to step outside and gauge the difference. Actually, I feel liberated. I feel free to do a film like Finding Fanny or Piku. There’s a certain kind of confidence, which has come in. What made you sign Finding Fanny or Piku after doing so many commercial blockbusters? It was an instinctive decision. We were working on Cocktail when Homi (Adajania) discussed this film saying it’s not happening. The film’s story stayed with me. The next day I asked him why he was not making it. He told me no one would be ready to do it. I told him I’d do it. He thought I was joking until I seriously started following it up with him. He spoke to Dinesh Vijan (producer) about it. That’s how the film happened. The film had a 30-day schedule in Goa. I didn’t even realise when it got wrapped up. It’s been such a seamless process. Same with Piku. It’s a father-daughter story. I’m working with Amitji (Bachchan). I could relate to the story. When you do a small film after doing big commercial films, people say, ‘Oh now she’s trying to do some offbeat films.’ That’s not true. I had signed Finding Fanny ever before Cocktail released. I believed in the subject. And even when I don’t sign a film, it doesn’t mean the script is bad. It’s just that I didn’t connect with it. Do you fear failure even more now? Not really. I know it’ll happen sometime but I’m not afraid. My career is based on what the audience likes and what they don’t like. The same audience who disliked my films earlier like them now. Maybe in the future they will dislike some of my films. I would like to believe that I have a sense of reality. I can’t expect my career to be only on the upswing. After a successful debut I had a phase of flops. My career is going to be full of ups and downs but hopefully at the end, it’ll be a memorable one. Hopefully, I’ll leave behind a good body of work. How have you managed to stay so grounded? I don’t see what I’ve done as an achievement. It’s just the beginning. It’s definitely a high to be at the top. I feel happy when I walk home and see all the awards. But only I know how much work has gone into that. I can’t sit at home and be happy. I have a lot more to do and a lot more to achieve. I want to do more challenging films and roles. The hunger is there, maybe even more. I want to have more beautiful experiences on a film set, I want to dedicate months to a film and enjoy my time shooting for it. Do you believe you have silenced the critics who once wrote you off? I always wanted to prove it to myself more than anybody else. I believe that everyone’s journey is different. Everyone’s career takes its own course. I needed to go through the lull especially after having such a successful debut. It taught me a lot about myself… about my likes, my dislikes, what kind of films I want to do, etc. I’m not from a film background so my whole understanding of cinema happened during that time. I didn’t have clarity earlier. I discovered myself in that process. How have your parents reacted to your success? They are also neutral. (Laughs) They are like chalo accha hai but abhi aage bado. Of course, they’re proud to see their daughter achieve things all by herself. They live through so many emotions when they see me go on stage to collect an award. But they also give me the reality check. My dad (ace badminton player Prakash Padukone) has achieved so much and he’s still grounded. He’s at peace with himself. I hope to reach that level. During the years he played, he gave it his all. He retired the day he felt that sense of satisfaction. He did what all he could and moved on to the next level. My parents have had an amazing influence on my life. Now, I have grown closer to my younger sister Anisha too. Suddenly she’s grown up and we have found our groove. We’ve become good friends. With Happy New Year, you are back with the dream team of Om Shanti Om… Today, when we were driving up the road of Film City to reach the helipad, I told my manager that my first shot for a film happened here. I said my first ever dialogue, ‘Kutte, kamine, Bhagwan ke liye mujhe chhod de!’ here. So life has come full circle. Clearly, today it has. Shah Rukh (Khan) and Farah (Khan) have shot at the helipad before, I’ve also shot but today we are all shooting together at the same place after so many years. I have to tell Farah this, she’ll feel happy. It feels nostalgic to work with them. Whenever Shah Rukh, Farah and I are together, we tell each other ‘yaad hai yeh hua tha, yaad hai woh hua tha.’ There are so many fond memories. Farah is like a proud mother. She keeps talking about how I was before and how I have become today. Wouldn’t Farah scream at you? Farah just yelled at me once. And that was the time I cried also. But Farah spoilt me, which is why I felt lost later. I assumed all the directors would be sweet like Farah. Alas! I realised every director is different and I had to take care of myself. You left Fast and Furious 7 for Happy New Year? Yes, I did. Well, it didn’t work for two reasons. I had already committed to HYN. Also, a major part of the movie was supposed to be shot in November in Abu Dhabi when Ram-Leela was releasing. And it would have meant not promoting it. Hence, I gave up Fast And Furious 7. Considering Farah’s last film Tees Maar Khan bombed, didn’t you have any apprehension signing HNY? I signed HNY not knowing what the script is. We were towards the end of Chennai Express and they were still looking for a girl. And my dates opened because Imtiaz’s (Ali) film shifted. So they asked me to be a part of it and I said yes instantly. I would never bat an eyelid for Farah and Shah Rukh. I’d never think twice. Coming to Shuddhi, why did you leave the film? People keep writing that I have left Shuddhi. Nobody knows what actually happened. I don’t think it’s right for me to say anything about a film which hasn’t been properly announced yet. Karan (Johar) is a dear friend and I share a clear and honest equation with him. If Shuddhi comes my way and if I happen to be in it, then I will comment. Right now, it’s complicated. Will you do Shuddhi if it’s offered to you? If the makers want me, I will do it. Did you leave Shuddhi for Bajirao Mastani? That’s not true. I haven’t chosen Bajirao over anything. Bajirao was offered to me and I’m doing it. I haven’t changed any dates for it. Why did I choose that? I just won my Filmfare Award for Ram-Leela. Why would I not work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali again? The experience of working with him was a spiritual one. He extracts the best out of you. On the last day of Ram-Leela, I began breathing again. I’m ready to go through the intense experience again. You are back with Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali’s next. What’s your take on you both being touted as the hottest onscreen pair? It’s a great thing. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani wouldn’t be the same without him and me. We both got lucky with the characters we were given. Ayan (Mukerji) has a knack of writing real characters. Some reports suggest that Karan Johar didn’t cast you opposite Ranbir in his next directorial because your pair would be overexposed. Really? I’m hearing this for the first time. Karan hasn’t even spoken to me about this. Imtiaz’s film will be Ranbir’s and my third film together. I have done three films with Shah Rukh, four films with Saif (Ali Khan) and never been in a situation like this. I don’t know if such things affect the film. At the end of the day, if I’m working in a different film with the same co-star, the chemistry will be different because the story will be different. How was the experience of shooting Kochadaiyaan with Rajinikanth? I said yes to the film because of Rajinikanth. For the first time I was in awe. I was like he’s ‘the’ Rajinikanth but he’s so simple and humble. I remember the moment he came on the set for the first time. He had a childlike enthusiasm and a spring in his step. He would talk to his daughter Aishwarya like an actor and not as a father. Aishwarya would call him ‘Appa’ and treat him like her father but he would relate to her as the director. He would ask where he was going wrong. I learnt a lot from him. We even shot a song together. It was cool. From New York to Mumbai, you and Ranveer Singh are constantly spotted together. Why don’t you accept your relationship with him? There’s nothing to accept. Oh come on! One needs to be sure of where you are headed and what you want with someone. Are you not ready to talk about the relationship yet? It’s not about being ready to talk about it. It’s about not being ready to be in a fully committed relationship. I’ve been through a lot in the past. I’ve been though my share of heartache. I’m a sensitive and emotional person. Until, I am fully ready, I won’t be able to talk about it. Are you getting cold feet because your last relationship and the break-up went public? Yeah definitely. When you go public, there’s too much scrutiny on the relationship. It puts unnecessary pressure too. The spotlight will always be on the couple. How important is Ranveer in your life? He’s definitely an important person in my life. He’s probably the most compatible person I’ve met. People find it strange because our energies are different. I’m a calm and centered person. He’s an energetic soul. Actually, people only see that side of his personality. He’s extremely sensitive and emotional. It’s rare to see that in a guy. What’s the best thing about Ranveer? His honesty. He doesn’t mince his words at all What’s the worst thing about him? Umm… it’s not exactly a bad thing but it’s his OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)! When he’s on set, he has this full process, perfume lagao, toothbrush karo, chewing gum khao, something something karo… He goes through this procedure before every shot. Sidharth Malhotra wants to kiss you; someone else wants to go on a date with you… All the new actors are crazy about you… They are just young boys who are excited and are being nice. You often hang out with them. Right? It’s actually weird to see some of them as actors now. I mean weird in a good way. I know Varun since the start of my career. We have common friends; I’m good friends with his brother Rohit (Dhawan). So it’s strange when I see him acting. I know the off camera Varun. Sid and I have done shows together in our modelling days. Which of these young actors have potential? I’m excited to see Harshwardhan Kapoor on screen. He’s good looking too. What about the younger actresses? I like Alia (Bhatt) and Parineeti (Chopra). They are my friends. Where do you see yourself five years from now? At the same place doing exactly the same thing. So life will always be at the movies? Yes, but at some point of time I’ll get married and would want to start a family and have many, many, many children. But I will be working. When do you plan marriage? I have to find the right person first. One needs to be sure. I’m 28, so I should be allowed to casually date. I should know the person completely and then decide on things. Only when I feel it’s the right time, will I settle down. filmfare/features/ranveer-is-the-most-compatible-person-ive-met-6877-1.html
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 06:41:22 +0000
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