"Ranveer is the most compatible person I’ve met"

Photo by Filmfare

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.

By Filmfare