Deepika Padukone recently got emotional about the love Shah Rukh Khan has received on his return to the silver screen with Pathaan after a four-year-gap, and revealed how she owes her acting career to the Bollywood star and his vision for her as an artiste.
The Siddharth Anand-directed spy-thriller Pathaan, which released worldwide on January 25, has broken countless box office records and has become the highest grossing film in the careers of all the three leads — Shah Rukh, Deepika and John Abraham. Here’s what Deepika had to say about the film and her co-star.
On Pathaan’s box office success
We set out to make a film with love, with the right intentions and most importantly, I think we had a good time. This is something Shah Rukh taught me in my very first movie. He said, ‘try and work with people you will have a good time with’. I think that makes a huge difference. When we go to the set everyday where you have people you love to work with, it's such a lovely atmosphere to work in and I think that is what the audience is taking back as well.
On having Shah Rukh as her co-star
It was interesting that we (Deepika and Shah Rukh) got to do films where our characters were so different but the chemistry is still so palpable. I don’t think you’ve seen either of us play characters like we have in Pathaan. But what makes it special is beyond what’s on paper. I think whether it's Om Shanti Om, whether it's Chennai Express or Happy New Year or whether it's Love Mera Hit Hit, what makes it special is the relationship we share, the love that we share, the trust that we share
I have great respect for him (Shah Rukh) as an artiste but even more as a human being. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn’t for Shah Rukh Khan and his vision for me.
On her debut film
In my first movie, I didn’t know anything. I'd never been on a film set but to shower me with so much love and grace. He’s (Shah Rukh) given me confidence, I don't think even he knows that. I do what I do with confidence because I know he will be there for me. I think it's that relationship that eventually translates on screen and you see these amazing characters and this amazing chemistry.
On doing action scenes
I don’t think many people know this but I love doing action and I have been underutilised in doing action. I think it's my athletic background. I’ve been an athlete and I have done movies where I have done a little bit of action. I love cable work, so I absolutely love doing action. Like I have said before, action for me is like a dance — it's choreography. So there’s a lot of precision, especially when it's two people or more than that… you have to rehearse.