Deepika Padukone celebrates her 23rd birthday today. Her only wish is to spend it with beau Ranbir Kapoor and his family. “He was slightly unwell with a bit of fever. But I am sure he will be okay for my birthday,” she says, laughing.
Deepika says the last year has been her most fulfilling year, personally and professionally. “To think last year at this time I was shooting for Bachna Ae Haseeno with Ranbir…time flies so fast,” she says, with a smile. It was on the sets of this film that love blossomed for the inseparable love birds.
This year too Deepika has a lot to look forward to. “In two week’s time my film with Akshay Kumar, Chandni Chowk to China, releases and I am most excited about it,” she says. “I am truly lucky to have managed to get a double role yet again in this film!”
Also, there is Shah Rukh Khan’s Billu Barber, where she has done a cameo for free. “I don’t know why such a big issue is being made of me doing it for free. The fact is I would do anything for SRK free. Even personally if he needs any help from me at any point of time, I will be there to extend it to him without asking a single question. I owe that much to him. How can I ever forget that he gave me the most rocking debut! SRK is special,” she says.
When asked if SRK had offered her money, Deepika states, “That’s something too personal to discuss. I consider Gauri and the Red Chillies team as personal friends.”
Deepika says she still has a lot to achieve, especially when compared with the seniors in the industry. “Who am I to even compare my achievements with other seniors in the field? I have so much more to do.”