Deepika Padukone Talks About Her Rumoured Films, Bollywood And Hollywood Career!

Over the past few months, Deepika Padukone has been busy on multiple fronts including the shooting for film-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati and whirlwind global promotions of her debut Hollywood film, xXx: Return Of Xander Cage. Apart from this, she also made news thanks to rumours about her being part of various films.

Myriad conjectures

“Yes, there have been a lot of speculations as far as my name is concerned in connection with certain films. And I can say that a lot of it is untrue. But fortunately or unfortunately, at this point, I wouldn’t go out of my way to clarify any of those specific rumours,” says Deepika.

In fact, Deepika adds that “sometimes”, she gets to know about her “association with certain films” when the media asks her about it. “So, suppose, I am at the airport and I am asked, ‘We have heard that you are doing this film.’ And I am like, ‘I am hearing about it for the first time myself. Where has it [the information] come from?’” she says.

Watch xXx: Return of Xander Cage | Trailer

Keeping mum

Ask Deepika if rumours of her association with various films gets annoying and she says, “Let me put it this way: it’s disappointing when it’s untrue and especially, if it comes out in a way that’s absolutely contrary to what might be the actual case. But it’s not my place to sit and talk about what happened and why.”

And what about Iranian film-maker Majid Majidi’s upcoming movie, Beyond The Clouds, which led to myriad conjectures and stories? “I can only say that it’s disappointing when things come out [in the media] and are projected in a way that’s completely contrary to what really happened,” says the actor, whose name has also been doing the rounds vis-à-vis Aanand L Rai’s next, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

Not juggling

“I think there’s a certain code or certain way — that might be unsaid — with which actors, writers or directors come together to make a film. Sometimes, things work out and sometimes, they don’t. But I am not the one to speak of a film if I am not doing it for whatever reasons,” says the Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) actor.

Watch Deewani Mastani song

Deepika insists that she “would never talk about films that she is approached for, got a narration for, met the director or if she didn’t like it for whatever reasons.” The actor adds that even if she hasn’t liked a script, “it doesn’t mean that the film isn’t good, it’s just that I didn’t connect with it.”

The same instinct

Deepika’s next release, in all likelihood, will be Padmavati. She says that “all of it (being approached for a film to it working out) has a process, and that should be dealt with in a certain manner.” She says,“I personally don’t like to talk about a film until I know I am doing it. So, right now, I can’t say what I am doing.”

Talking shop, after XXX, is she looking at more work in Hollywood? “I am looking at films. Period. I can’t differentiate between my works. How is one [film] different from another?” At the same time, Deepika adds that “right now, there’s nothing.” “I haven’t liked anything yet but hopefully, I will like something soon. Having said that, I would love to do another Hollywood film. I don’t consider them (Hollywood and Bollywood) as two separate careers. So, I don’t think of them as having to juggle two different things,” says the actor.

Deepika, however, adds that her instinct to choose work in both industries is the same. “I will choose my films exactly the same way I chose XXX, Padmavati, Piku (2015), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) or Chennai Express (2013). It’s the same instinct that I always use [to choose work in Hollywood as well as Bollywood],” she says.

Fashion outing

The Om Shanti Om (2007) actor, who attended the New York Fashion Week recently, calls it an “amazing” experience. “As a girl, I love fashion regardless of whether I am fashionable or not (laughs). Most people think I am fashionable while some might think I am not. But at the end of the day, I am a girl and I love my clothes with my basic understanding of fashion and style. In that capacity, it was fun to watch all the models walk the runway, see all the amazing clothes, and soak in the entire experience,” she says.

In January, Deepika also saw the release of her debut Hollywood venture, XXX, and is “happy to see how well the film has been received.” She says: The move to take on challenges to defy everything that one might think of actors from India; or defy the fact that we [Indian actors] are expected to do only that much, has been gratifying. Even in terms of the result, people’s expectations, and the way the film and I have been personally received, it’s great.”