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'OSO changed my entire life'

Though she made her film debut down south, Deepika Padukone's Hindi debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan turned her into an overnight star. Since then, there has been no turning back for this sensational long-legged badminton player.

Her upcoming film, Love Aaj Kal sees her romancing Saif Ali Khan, and is directed by Jab We Met director Imtiaz Ali.

Nithya Ramani caught up with the actress to know more about the film, and life after Om Shanti Om.

How has life been post Om Shanti Om?

That one weekend changed my entire life. I haven't had the time to digest it yet but I won't let it affect me. It is important to concentrate on my work and let it be my priority. It has been a huge learning experience from OSO to Love Aaj Kal considering the fact that I don't come from a film background nor do I know anybody in the industry. 

I've never assisted anyone or been on sets of any film. Right from the basics of what a take is, editing, dialogues -- everything continues to be a learning process. I'll never be able to say I know everything.

'I believe true love happens only once'

What is Love Aaj Kal about?

It is a romantic love story. It is about relationships and how they used to be in earlier generations and what the youth think of relationships today. Career has become a priority but at some point you realise that love is very important and that you can't do without it.

Are you a follower of the old school of thought or the modern one?

I want to believe that I am a blend of both. I am the youth of today but at the same time, my ideologies and concept of love, relationships and marriage is very much like how it used to be in the earlier generations. I look up to my parents for that.

I am someone who believes that true love happens only once and that you marry the person you love and stick by that person for the rest of your life. Problems may happen which every relationship goes through, but you deal with it together.

'Imtiaz wanted Saif the actor, not Saif the producer'

How is Saif as a producer and an actor?

I haven't seen Saif the producer and I appreciate him for that. He was always there as an actor and I think that was one of the conditions Imtiaz Ali [director] had -- that he wanted Saif the actor and not the producer. Saif was creatively involved as the producer during pre and post shooting stage.

How is Saif as a person?

We got along very well. We were very professional. He is a very intelligent man. He has his life, runs his own house -- which I recently discovered -- and has knowledge about other things apart from films.

How was it working with Imtiaz? What is your rapport with him?

Imtiaz and I somewhat very similar -- sensitive and receptive. He knew exactly how to bring out the performer in me.

'I was able to identify with the character in Love Aaj Kal'

How would you react if Imtiaz disliked your performance in a scene?

He would talk me through it. My equation with every director I have worked with is different. Imtiaz's way is to talk you through it. He will tell you what the previous scene was and what is next and how to go about doing the current scene. He didn't have to do too much of it because I was able to identify with the character.

Any tips to aspiring actresses and models?

It is not just glamour -- there is a lot of hard work that go into it. It depends on what level you want to reach and what kind of films you want to do. Be sure of what you want to make out of your career and be extremely committed and focussed.