With 'RamLeela' the actress scores her fifth biggest opening till date... and there's more to come
Dancing Deepika: Still from 'Ram-Leela'. (YouTube)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Ram Leela' is all about riots of colour, guns blazing, bottles smashing and in all these exhausting experience if there is one thing that's pleasing to the eye is Deepika Padukone - not just the beauty but her performance is spellbinding.
Bhansali's leading lady steals the show. With time, the gorgeous Deepika has come to make use of her almond-shaped eyes, both in her feisty banter with her hero, as well as in the tragic moments.
An Indian movie critic wrote: "This Deepika Padukone is a grown woman, fiery and passionate, and every inch the equal of her lover..."
She is right now a hot favourite amongst filmmakers and audiences.
Her chemistry with every actor is beyond all physics and biology.
Deepika is on a new career high having worked in three consecutive blockbusters in 2013 with 'Race 2', 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' and 'Chennai Express'.
Deepika Padukone pockets 'Ram-Leela' as another hit in this year's list of successful movies. She might have had her share of bad films and a rough phase in Bollywood, like so many others, but the actor has emerged a clear winner today.
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After debuting with a blockbuster in 2007 ('Om Shanti Om'), Deepika Padukone survived some choppy waters but hardly lost the taste of success.
She signed films like 'Break Ke Baad' (Imran Khan), 'Karthik Calling Karthik' (Farhan Akhtar), 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' (Abhishek Bachchan) and 'Lafangey Parindey' (Neil Nitin Mukesh).
She signed films like 'Break Ke Baad' (Imran Khan), 'Karthik Calling Karthik' (Farhan Akhtar), 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey' (Abhishek Bachchan) and 'Lafangey Parindey' (Neil Nitin Mukesh).
Till then her success rate was comme ci, comme ça.
After 'Om Shanti Om' Deepika didn't see much awards coming her way, but interestingly, the actor kept delivering at least one hit every year which kept her floating.
Filmmakers were still interested to work with the actress and knew it was just a matter of time before Deepika would cruise through.
In 'Aarakshan' and 'Desi Boyz', Deepika was noticed but nothing beyond that. Then came the wise move from Deepika - a heady mix of devil-may-care attitude and ultra-modern avatar of Veronica.
After 'Om Shanti Om' Deepika didn't see much awards coming her way, but interestingly, the actor kept delivering at least one hit every year which kept her floating.
Filmmakers were still interested to work with the actress and knew it was just a matter of time before Deepika would cruise through.
In 'Aarakshan' and 'Desi Boyz', Deepika was noticed but nothing beyond that. Then came the wise move from Deepika - a heady mix of devil-may-care attitude and ultra-modern avatar of Veronica.
Her third film with Saif Ali Khan, 'Cocktail', quenched her thirst for a solid hit. The urban affair showcased Deepika is various shades and she explored, imparting the nuances of the character with applause.
This was the first time after being around for half a decade that the crown of being an 'actor' was put on her head.
This was the first time after being around for half a decade that the crown of being an 'actor' was put on her head.
(Cocktail)In the past Deepika graced the tabloids and hogged the headlines for her link-ups and break-ups. Young and ambitious Deepika was the urban face of Indian youth, who wore her heart on her sleeves.
When in love she inked it to declare her commitment. Media loved her attitude. But her break-up received equal space in black and white.
She partied hard and in retrospect, maybe, she worked harder. And now is the time to regain the headlines for what she should in the first place - acting.
The leggy lass, who has completed half a decade in the industry, has now claimed her position among the top ranks not just by her ravishing looks but her spontaneous acting prowess over the years.
The leggy lass, who has completed half a decade in the industry, has now claimed her position among the top ranks not just by her ravishing looks but her spontaneous acting prowess over the years.
'Race 2', a multi-starrer added another feather to her success cap. A glamorous affair that didn't quite require histrionics from Deepika still, she sizzled. The movie raced to the coveted Rs 100 crore (INR) club in India.
Then 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani' happened with her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. This was not meant to be easy - not after being cheated and going public about the infidelity.
But audiences wanted to see them together, on-screen and off-screen.
'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' turned out to be a blockbuster, also one of the hottest films to arrive this season. The chemistry between the two actors brought down the house.
With her delivering a fantastic performance and junta lapping up the film big time, Deepika enjoyed second biggest grosser in the history of Hindi cinema after 'Ek Tha Tiger'.
Deepika made her next-door character distinctive, blending grit, courage and compassion.
'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani' turned out to be a blockbuster, also one of the hottest films to arrive this season. The chemistry between the two actors brought down the house.
With her delivering a fantastic performance and junta lapping up the film big time, Deepika enjoyed second biggest grosser in the history of Hindi cinema after 'Ek Tha Tiger'.
Deepika made her next-door character distinctive, blending grit, courage and compassion.
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Next stop was 'Chennai Express' which smashed all records in break-neck speed.
Deepika Padukone, the protégé, manages to overshadow Shah Rukh Khan with her incredible beauty, cute dimples and with the thick accent giving a spirited performance.
Emirates24|7 critic wrote: "Despite being given a character that could easily turn into a caricature, she manages glamour and comedy well."
Her detractors can eat their words now. The trade pundits have already put her in the No. 1 game ahead of Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. Now, what’s next, Deepika!
'Ram Leela' is Deepika Padukone's fifth biggest opening till date.
She will be soon seen in 'Kochadaiyyan' opposite superstar Rajinikanth, 'Finding Fanny Fernandes' will be an English satirical short film and for the third time pair with Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan's 'Happy New Year'.
She will be soon seen in 'Kochadaiyyan' opposite superstar Rajinikanth, 'Finding Fanny Fernandes' will be an English satirical short film and for the third time pair with Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan's 'Happy New Year'.
Deepika Padukone has come a long way... And she's definitely here to stay. Here's a toast to the new superstar in Bollywood!
“It was a very long process to transform physically to be Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram. I enjoy working out, going to the gym and physical activity but the hard part was the diet. That was where I had to sacrifice and stay away from chocolates, which I absolutely love. That’s where it gets hard. I wouldn’t wish the diet I was on even on my worst enemies. You will be put off, if you see photos of what I had to eat. A special expert had been flown down from the UK to train me for a twelve week plan with workouts twice a day and controlled meal portions. We had to do it because Mr. Bhansali decided that he wanted to showcase my physicality. He said that every girl who watches the film should lust after Ram and every guy should lust to be like Ram. He said that I need to look sexy and I am glad that I did hit the gym hard because I am very happy with the results. The response I got was great. I am happy that it has been captured on celluloid because you can’t keep such physicality for a long time as it affects your central nervous system and your body starts feeling deprived.”
The first scene I had to shoot for the film was a sequence you see in the song ‘Lahu Munh Lag Gaya’. I put some colour on Ranveer’s face and then there is the kiss. It was my first day on the film and we didn’t rehearse, plan or discuss it beforehand. It was given to us when we got the sets. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. Me and Ranveer had only spent some time together doing workshops but I had not spent any time with him as a co-star before that scene. I think, the fact that I was not familiar with him, worked for the scene. It worked out well because in the film, it’s the first time they meet. The chemistry that you see between us is very organic. It just happened
