In Om Shanti Om, Deepika Padukone steps out of a fancy yellow car and walks the red carpet of her movie's premiere, smiling and waving at a massive crowd of her awe-struck admirers.
From a rank newcomer playing a superstar to becoming one of Bollywood's topmost heroines, the stunner from Bengaluru has come a long way in almost six years and three back to back hits to her credit -- Cocktail, Race 2 and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Her next -- Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express opposite her first Hindi film co-star Shah Rukh Khan, too, is designed for major success.
There's a lot to dig about this leggy beauty. Here are 10 things we absolutely adore about Ms Padukone.
1. She's HOT. And knows it too.
The Love Aaj Kal star is textbook attractive.
She's got it all -- fabulous figure, gorgeous face, long, long, long legs and, most importantly, truckloads of poise.
She's got it all -- fabulous figure, gorgeous face, long, long, long legs and, most importantly, truckloads of poise.
2. D for Deepika. D for Dimples.
Bollywood has a weakness for dimpled celebrities.
From Sharmila Tagore to Shah Rukh Khan, that cutesy hollow that form on their cheeks with every smile is always a pleasant visual.
Deepika is no exception. Her dimples unquestionably add to her darling quotient.
3. And the Ms Congeniality title goes to...
Deepika's sorted out persona make her co-stars, even the girls, warm up to her without any hesitation.
Whether she's ganging up with rival Sonam Kapoor in good fun at a chat show or bonding with her colleagues like Diana Penty, Kalki Koechlin, Lara Dutta or Jacqueline Fernandes on the sets, the self-assured warmth of the actress is most refreshing.
4. The Dedicated Professional!
Not many actors are able to dissociate their personal equations with their professional lives and hurt their career in the process. But Deepika Padukone is too wise to make such blunders.
Initially, she couldn't do Race 2 because of date issues and after some unpleasantness with producer Ramesh Taurani came to a compromise and filmed/promoted the Abbas Mustan thriller without any hangups.
Also impressive is the grace with which she made Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani with former beau Ranbir Kapoor. The ex-lovers conducted themselves with so much dignity, many noted how wonderful it is to see this mature facet of modern-day relationships.
5. The Effortless Style Icon
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Western, traditional, fusion, sexy, cute, bohemian, nerdy, vintage, grunge, glam, is there any look Deepika cannot pull off?
No wonder this elegant clothes horse is a designer's favourite showstopper and magazine's frequent cover girl.
6. Sporty Chica!
Badminton champion Prakash Padukone's daughter is a born athlete.
The sport practically runs in her blood and Deepika pursued it actively during her study years till a life in showbiz beckoned.
7. The Pretty Planner!
The fiercely independent DP leads a disciplined lifestyle and is quite proud of her meticulous organising, multi-tasking skills.
Never to tag along her mommy-daddy for anything, the 27-year-old runs her household and staff all by herself without any interference.
Efficient and exemplary, that's Ms Padukone in a nutshell.
8. Funny side of Deepika!
The usually politically correct Deepika does have a mischievous side to her, which came out in the open rather infamously through Karan Johar's celebrity chat show, Koffee With Karan.
Both she and Sonam Kapoor brought out their claws to take some nasty (but hilarious) potshots at Ranbir Kapoor. Here's what Dee said in response to what she'd gift her Bachna Ae Haseeno hero, 'a box of condoms.'
Damn these badtameez dils!
9. Lights, camera...ACTION!
Besides her sporty disposition, the actress is game for doing action packed stuff on screen. She specially trained in the martial arts, jujitsu for her role of a half-Indian, half-Chinese femme fatale in Chandni Chowk To China.
Her long-delayed film with Rajnikanth, Rana, too boasts of the actress doing some heavy-duty stunts.
10. Cool and classy!
In an industry bursting with inflated egos or vain fashionistas, it's nice to witness Deepika Padukone's simple, steadfast values, grounded manners and accessible persona.
She takes criticism in her stride, acknowledges her limitations and strives to work hard at getting better. She handles praise with equal composure. She's bighearted enough to let bygones be bygones.
How can you not love her?
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