Deepika’s Wish to Play Audrey Hepburn
~ Reetu Bajaj ‘12
Deepika walks the ramp for Ranna Gill – Rina Dhaka
Deepika Padukone, a well known actress who has only acted in three movies, admits to wanting to play the elegant Audrey Hepburn, her style icon. During the Wills India Fashion Week, where Deepika walked the runway for Ranna Gill and Rina Dhaka’s collections, she admitting wanting to act in movies like Breakfast in Tiffany’s or Roman Holiday.
Working with well known actors such as Shah Rukh Khan in the musical hit Om Shanti Om (2007) and Akshay Kumar in Chandni Chowk to China, Deepika is currently costarring with Saif Ali Khan under direction of filmmaker Imtiaz Ali who directed on the uplifting comedy Jab We Met. Deepika admits to have enjoyed working with Imtiaz Ali in his movie Love Aaj Kal. “It was a dream working for a sensitive director like him. Imtiaz just seemed to know the kind of person we were and brought out the best in us. He guided all through the movie” (Deepika). She is also currently looking forward to working for Vijay Lalwani’s Kartik Calling Kartik which is said to be more like a psychological thriller.
Having a soft spot for action movies and a liking for playing sports such as badminton and basketball, Deepika has come to realize how the role of women in Indian cinema is changing. “It is becoming more challenging. Even in the past, there were movies where women did not have to run around trees. An actress could opt to show off her talent” (Deepika). After Om Shanti Om and Bachna Aie Hasseno, Deepika realized how she is starting to mature and confesses that Bollywood is not always about the boy meeting and chasing girl. With this fresh attitude, audiences can expect great and interesting roles from this dazzling up-and-coming actress.