Truth be told: ‘It is a very interesting time to be an actor’

‘Bajirao Mastani’ star Deepika Padukone talks Hollywood , working with Shahid Kapoor in next

It’s only been nine years since she made her debut with Om Shanti Om opposite Shah Rukh Khan, and Deepika Padukone is already set for her Hollywood debut alongside Vin Diesel. Some time ago, her Piku co-star Irrfan Khan said there could not have been a better time for Indian actors to go to Hollywood. When asked if she feels the same way, Deepika agreed.

“I have been saying for a while now that it’s a very interesting time to be an actor and I can say that confidently, at least from a creative point of view. In my experience, I can state that not just in India, but globally as well, there has been a shift, whether it’s the kind of content being made or the kind of actors that are being cast,” Bollywood.com quoted Deepika as saying.

Speaking about pay disparity between male and female actors, she shared, “I feel this requires much more detailed debate and discussion. It would be interesting to see how things play out in the future.”



In her home country, Deepika will be teaming up with her Bajirao Mastani co-star Ranveer Singh once again, for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Padmavati.

However, she seemed more excited about working with Shahid Kapoor for the first time. “I have wanted to work with Shahid for a long time. Shahid and I would always talk about wanting to work with each other,” Deepika stated. She mentioned that her and Shahid have been offered to do many films together, but somehow things never worked out. “I’m sure there is a reason why it didn’t happen for so many years, and why it’s finally happening now. I am glad that him and Ranveer agreed to be a part of this film. It’s going to be an intense and exciting journey. And who better than Sanjay sir to bring us together?”

Deepika also opened up about the first time she spoke publicly about suffering from depression, and then Anushka Sharma and Karan Johar followed suit. “I will not take the credit for being the first one to talk about the issue in public. Instead, I would credit the people who have found the strength to share their respective stories and journeys.”

She feels it takes a lot of courage to talk about mental illness openly because there is a lot of stigma associated with it. “I thought it was very brave of Anushka and Karan to share their stories. I didn’t think do it as an act of bravery, but I spoke about it because I felt it was the right thing to do. It was a very important part of my life and my journey,” Deepika said. “I thought that people needed to know that I’ve had such an important experience. I am happy that people are now coming forward, seeking help, sharing their stories and giving strength to those who need it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2016.

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