March 2008

Deepika Padukone teams up with Rishi Kapoor

It may take yesteryear lover boy Rishi Kapoor and his son Ranbir some time to showcase their talent together. But the young actor's girlfriend Deepika Padukone already has that privilege.

She will be sharing screen space with Rishi in Saif Ali Khan's first production to be directed by Imtiaz Ali of Jab We Met fame. "I did a reading with Rishi uncle for the film, and I was simply stunned. He's that good. Imtiaz's film will be a departure for me," Deepika told IANS.

"I'm lucky enough to work with both Ranbir and Rishi uncle. Now all I need is a film with Neetu aunty to complete the picture," she added. The actress, who debuted with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om, will play Saif's leading lady in the yet untitled film.

"I'm definitely looking forward to working with Saif. He's one of the best actors we've ever had," she said. But before that Deepika is currently shooting for Nikhil Advani's action flick Chandni Chowk To China with Akshay Kumar.

"I've trained in martial arts for the film and I enjoyed myself thoroughly because I'm athletic. People see me as very ladylike and proper. But there's another, very tomboyish side of me that you'll see in Chandni Chowk To China." However, her first post Om Shanti Om release would be Yash Raj Films' Bachna Ae Haseenon. In the film, Deepika has to share her boyfriend Ranbir with two other leading ladies. "Yes, but that's only for the screen no?" she quipped. "It is Ranbir's film all the way. In my very first narration I was sure I wanted to do it.

"Siddharth Anand suggested I take some time to decide, but I liked his honesty and I loved my bit in the script. Siddharth was honest enough to tell me there were three other girls with Ranbir in the film - now, of course, there're only two other girls. As an actor it's important for me to be part of projects I believe in even if my role is comparatively small."