Дипика Подукон (Deepika Padukone)

After the not so encouraging response to his last film What's Your Raashee? , Ashutosh Gowariker is making sure he gets it all right with his next Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. The film starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles is a period film on the 1930's Chittagong Uprising and is based on Manini Chatterjee's book 'Do And Die'.

While Abhishek's look in the film was revealed a few months ago, here is a sneak peek at Deepika's get-up in the film. As can be seen, Deepika is seen wearing a traditional Bengali saree designed by none other than Neeta Lulla. Says Ashutosh Gowariker about Deepika's look, "Deepika portrays the character of Kalpana Datta. This is one of my favourite images of the movie. It showcases the grit and determination of the women of 1930's. These were times when women were not allowed to participate in freedom movements. But here is a lady who braved all odds and took the gun in her hands to fight for the country."

Well, this certainly is a complete departure for Deepika who has hitherto been seen in a glamorous avatar in most of her films. How far will audiences accept her in this get-up is something we will have to wait and watch.

By Subhash K. Jha, May 24, 2010 - 10:38 IST

Deepika Padukone and Neil Nitin Mukesh who are shooting together just can't get enough of complimenting each other.

Says Deepika, "Neil is such a well brought-up guy, absolutely impeccable in his manners. Besides being a brilliant actor he's also a great technician. I see him turning director soon. My other co-star Imran Khan in Break Ke Baad is great fun too. We shot in Delhi and bonded immediately."

Speaking of Imran, there was talk of Deepika deliberately working with Ranbir Kapoor's immediate rival after their break.

The actress flares up. "No one tells me what to do and what not to do. My personal life has nothing to do with my professional. Imran is a wonderful co-star. I like working with actors who are fun yet professional, like Akshay, Imran, Neil and Abhishek Bachchan."

Ask her about the linkup with Vijay Mallya's son and Deepika sighs, "Can't I be seen with the people I'm working with without being linked to them? Not too many people know this. But Siddharth Mallaya actually runs the whole IPL show for his father. So it was natural for me to celebrate with him when our team won a match. Anyway the IPL season is now over. So I guess that rumour will end."

Deepika is very happy about her roles so far. "Housefull was a new experience. I had to do comedy. Like Akshay Kumar I chose to do a more subtle comedy in Housefull. For me being funny doesn't mean screaming and rolling my eyes. Now I've three films that are about to be completed. Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, Pradeep Sarkar's Lafangey Parindey and Danish Aslam's Break Ke Baad. Let's see which comes next."

Apparently, Neil is so protective of Deepika that he gets tensed every time she has to perform a stunt sequence. "It's very sweet of him. But I insist on doing what I want to. Neil does get tensed up."

Lead actors playing visually challenged characters is not new, but for Deepika Padukone it was a first. She describes it as her toughest role yet but also says she is exactly like the heroine - a woman who is self-confident, ambitious and never gives up.

'For me, this role out of all the films that I have done was the most challenging. It's not been easy. It required a lot of focus and concentration. I had to observe a lot of blind people before I could play this role,' Deepika, 24, told IANS in an interview.

'I think I identify with the character Pinky a lot because Pinky is someone who is extremely self-assured. She is extremely confident, knows exactly what she wants. She is ambitious and she never gives up, which is exactly how I am,' she said.

This time director Pradeep Sarkar has teamed up with Deepika Neil Nitin Mukesh and a bunch of other actors to narrate the story of a group of youngsters living in the back streets of Mumbai. Releasing Aug 20, it will see Neil playing a boxer who fights blindfolded, while Deepika will be seen as a visually challenged girl who can dance on skates.

'The biggest challenge was to pretend that I was not seeing. There were no supporting tools like black goggles or a stick with me to make it obvious that I am blind.

'For example, we friends are sitting together and discussing something and one of them says, 'arre dekh na' and then realises I can't see. Or he removes a glass a bit aside spontaneously not realising I couldn't see that...So everyone had to focus and give a lot of attention all the time while shooting the film,' said Deepika.

The actress along with other cast and crew spent time with visually challenged people to understand their behavioural nuances and figure out counter actions.
'It took around six months of reading and interacting. Lots of physical movements I had to get use to. It's like feeling things around you without actually being able to see them.

'We didn't visit any blind school, but all of us met a lot of blind people... it was not just for me but also very important for Neil and the group of friends I am interacting with in the film, even for 'dada' (Sarkar) to see how it is to interact with the blind. So I think it was a group process for all of us,' she said.

Deepika says she didn't find it nerve-wracking to do the implausible stunts.

'As I have been an athlete and a sportsperson before, I think it just makes it much easier and interesting for me. I think to be able to do stunts, you need to be physically fit. It needs a lot of dedication, it needs a lot of control on the kind of food you are eating. So it was a lot of discipline,' said Deepika.

It's her zeal for sports that gave her the courage to train in scuba diving and sky diving.

'The skating is something I had to learn for the film, but the scuba diving and this sky diving is something I have done for myself. It's always nice to challenge your limits. I always thought that I was scared of heights until I jumped off a plane. Today when I fly in a plane and look outside, it doesn't feel like anything,' said Deepika.

After 'Lafangey Parindey', Deepika has two films - 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' and 'Break Ke Baad' - in queue for release this year.

The actress doesn't get bogged down by work pressure; neither does she get jittery by audience expectation.
'I don't consider it as work pressure, as I enjoy doing it. But I feel very relaxed when I spend my time alone at home after I pack up every day or I speak to my parents and spend time with them.

'I don't expect people to expect anything. I know I have given it my best.

I obviously hope the best for every film,' said Deepika.