Big banner films, endorsements, awards, appreciation and attention. Deepika Padukone has all these, but she says they haven't changed the "normal girl" in her because she chooses to live a life free of complications.
"I'm just a normal girl... nothing has changed for me. I can still go out freely. I believe your life changes in a way that you want it to be. I don't think my life has changed in a drastic way," Deepika told IANS in an interview here.
"Yes, there are some things that come with the profession, but the basics are more important. I like to believe that certain things haven't changed.
"I don't miss anything about my past. I choose to keep doing things that are meaningful and special to me. I choose to live a life that is not complicated. Sometimes we unnecessarily complicate our own lives, but I choose not to live like that," she added.
Her simplicity, she said, comes from her father, celebrated badminton player Prakash Padukone.
It was in 2007 that Deepika made her foray into Bollywood, but much before that she was a successful model and had plum endorsements.
Since her Bollywood launch with "Om Shanti Om", Deepika has painted a success story that only a few outsiders from the industry have been able to score.
Tall, well-spoken and expressive, her forte has been all about her ease of slipping into characters that are distinct in persona -- whether it is nerdy Naina of "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", the bold Leela in "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", a doting daughter in "Piku" or valiant warrior Mastani in her last release "Bajirao Mastani".
Of course, she had her misses -- "Karthik Calling Karthik", "Lafangey Parindey", "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey" and "Dum Maaro Dum". But now she even has a Hollywood film in her kitty -- "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage", in which she will star alongside Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson and Nina Dobrev.
"I'm very excited and at the same time nervous about the film," the 30-year-old said.
After almost a decade in Bollywood, the former model, who spoke to IANS on the launch of watch brand Tissot's new collection, says she's only looking forward to "meaningful films".
"You are constantly trying to get better at what you do and you try to do better than what you did last. I want to be part of different kinds of films. That's really the aim.
"And, most importantly, to be a part of meaningful films, that will be remembered for a long time. I'm just hoping that 2016 will be as special as last year," said Deepika, who was also appreciated for her work in "Tamasha" last year.
As per the sources, The PIKU star will be featured in a series of television films, Prints ads for Tanishq where she is seen sharing memorable moments with people she loves. Padukone is an active celebrity endorser for several brands and products, including Tissot, Sony Cyber-shot, Nescafe, Vogue eyewear, Maybelline and Pepsi, among others. In 2012, it was reported that Padukone had signed on for an endorsement deal with Garnier worth ?60 million (US$950,000), a record breaking remuneration for an Indian actress
Contrary to rumours that Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone don't interact a lot on the sets of Imtiaz Ali's upcoming film 'Tamasha', our source tells us that all is well with the duo.
"They continue to remain cordial. More so, both actors are very particular about their fitness regime and work out together," says the source.
Reports of a rift between the two came forth apparently after the two actors requested for different flights to travel abroad for the first schedule of 'Tamasha'. Then, the duo requested for rooms on different floors of the hotel they were supposed to be staying in during the film's shoot.
A source from the unit says, "They aren't best of friends but care about each other. They talk when needed. They do hang out sometimes post their shoot but there is nothing more to it than that," adds the source.
Director Imtiaz Ali remained unavailable for comment.
Priyanka Chopra is talented, intelligent, driven, multifaceted, risk-taker, socially conscious, adorable, beautiful, sassy and also very very Sexy... It's very difficult to describe Priyanka Chopra in one sentence. Over 10 million people from across the world, voted for her as the 'World's sexiest Asian Woman', you can't help but nod your head in agreement.
Recently in The World's Sexiest Asian Woman rating, she bagged the spot for the "Hottest Women of 2015", elbowing out contemporaries with a whopping 53% votes beating Deepika Padukone who received 35% of the votes.
This isn't the first time that the SHERO has beat Deepika at a poll - Priyanka topped the Sexiest Woman in a Bikini poll, bagging 22,552 votes out of the 23,775 votes that came in, winning by a huge margin.
One of Bollywood's most sought after actresses and international recording artist Priyanka Chopra also made it to the Numero Uno spot on the Ultimate Guys Guide- Maxim India's Hottest List for 2013.
This is second consecutive year that Priyanka made it to the top rankings on the magazine's Hottest List , an annual poll with some of the most gorgeous women competing for the crown.The "Exotic" singer and power player beat the likes of Grammy award winner Beyonce and Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima to the no#1 spot.
.jpg)
