TIME FOR A CHANGE

Casual and chic in Karthik Calling Karthik, ultra- glam in Housefull, khadi-clad in Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Sey and streetsmart in Lafange Parinde. Deepika Padukone gets daringly different

“Someone just asked me what I had last bought for myself and I realised that I hadn’t gone shopping for a long time,” says Deepika Padukone, as she settles into the cushy settee in Excel Entertainment’s office where she is present for the promotions of Karthik Calling Karthik. The leggy actress is in-between a lot of things. She has just finished Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Sey and on February 17 she starts shooting for Yash Raj Films’ Lafange Parinde (tentative title), after which her dates have been booked by Kunal Kohli for his BreakKe Baad followed by the release of Housefull. Presently, however she is busy with the promotions of this edge-of-the-seat thriller. “Ever since the promos have been out I have been getting messages from people saying they have loved my look, especially the short hair, and that it makes me look younger than I am. Shah Rukh Khan and Imtiaz Ali said that it has added something to my personality,” smiles the actress,

“But going beyond the physical aspect, the short hair suits Shonali’s character. An architect by profession, she is focussed, driven, totally independent, bubbly, speaks her mind and at the same time she is smart and intelligent,” she continues breathlessly.

Talking about similarities between the character and herself, she narrates that when she came on the sets in a casual top, director Vijay Lalwani thought it suited her character so well that he asked her to continue wearing it and even her poster shot was taken in that! After that there were several occasions when she shot in her own clothes.

Though she concedes that the character is a lot like her, she says that she differs in that she is more shy and reserved. “There is a mad streak in me, and sometimes I do things out of character but generally I am calm and composed, which she is not. And then unlike her, I never make the first move.”

Just then, Vijay Lalwani puts in an appearance. He is young, reasonably good-looking and she makes him blush when she teases him that he should be in front of the camera! “Vijay is the first new director I am working with,” she says looking at him, “I had been offered films with new directors but being so new myself, I did not have the confidence to work with a new director. Apart from having written a great script he exuded confidence and was very sure of himself. In fact, Farhan and I kept teasing him that he is the debutant and we were more experienced. On the sets both he and Farhan were so funny, they were always competing with each other about who could make everyone laugh. Vijay would sometimes end up being the only one laughing at his jokes and literally use a placard saying ‘Please laugh I just cracked a joke’,” she informs, laughing heartily.

2010 is proving to be a very satisfying year for the young actress. If she is charged about Karthik.. she is equally kicked up about Ashutosh Gowarikar’s period flick Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Sey, in which she plays a revolutionary. Reportedly, Asin, who was first offered the part, turned it down as she found the role miniscule. “I was not aware of that, when Ashutosh offered me the period thriller. I always wanted to do a period film and that too with Ashutosh. When I read the script, I wanted to be a part of the film and do that character. It is one of my most creatively-satisfying experiences and an extraordinary film. For the first time, I will be seen wearing simple khadi sarees.”

A complete contrast will be Sajid Khan’s Housefull, which she describes as a mad, mad, mad comedy . “All I can say is that I am an ultra- glamorous in the film.”

She does not want to reveal much about the Daanish Aslam directed Break Ke Baad either, except that she found the director extremely talented and good-looking! “He looks a lot like Imran Khan,” she smiles, “And yes that will be my second film with a new director. Like Vijay, I found him very self-assured.” In the film, Imran and she play a couple who try to get back after splitting.

If reports are to be believed that seems to be the case with her personal life too. Didn’t we hear that Ranbir Kapoor was trying to woo her back?. But she’s not telling. “This year I am part of some very interesting projects. Each film is different and the best part is that I look different in the varied parts I am playing. And that is what I am focussed on right now. Rumours are an ongoing process and will be a part of my life as long I am in the industry. People just read these things and forget about it. But a good performance is something they will always remember,” she says firmly.

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