Aishwarya is the torch bearer for putting India on the global map: Deepika Padukone

Despite the mad rush of managers and assistants coordinating her entry into the room, Deepika Padukone had a sense of calm and composure as she walked in, and took a seat at the table to interact with media persons. “If I am offered an interesting script for a south Indian film, I would definitely consider taking it up. For me, language is only a medium to give shape to great content,” starts Deepika.

A star with many talents, she has never been one to back away from challenges. So, when she got the opportunity to set foot into Hollywood, she grabbed it without any self-doubt. The actress, who recently wrapped up her shoot for xXx: Return of Xander Cage, will now get back to working full-fledgedly here again. “It was great fun working with Vin Diesel and Ruby Rose. From Monday to Friday, we would shoot and — during the weekends, we would meet for dinner and just hang out! We got along really well, despite never having worked with each other before. They were really welcoming from day one,” she reminisces. When asked about how her experience of working in the US, she says that she doesn’t like to separate her Hollywood journey from her career.  

“Honestly, I don’t like dividing my projects into Hollywood or Bollywood — as an actor, the kind of effort and hard work that I put into any film is exactly the same, and the only difference is the language. So, I don’t look at it as two separate journeys. I look at it as an extension of my career,” she says, humbly.

The artiste attributes much of her value systems to sports, which have been a very important part of her life. “A lot of what I implement in my current profession as an actor, be it discipline, dedication, or a focused attitude, it all comes from being a sportsperson,” she says, adding, “Sports has helped me and my family understand the importance of not only being physically fit, but even mentally.”

On being questioned about her fellow competitor, Priyanka Chopra who has seen success in Hollywood, Deepika says that Aishwarya Rai is the one who must be recognised first. “She, for me, is the torch bearer for putting India on the global map. But everyone who has managed to break through into the western market — whether it is Anil, Irfan, Priyanka, or myself — I think we have all done a great job,” she says with a satisfied smile on her face. “We got this opportunity at a time when all of us are working towards breaking stereotypes. We are all focused on being part of good content, and to be cast in films based on our talent and not because of the colour of our skin,” she says. Today, Deepika stands as one of the highest paid celebrities in Bollywood, squashing the trend of male actors always being paid the most. Rock on, Dippy!