Thank God Ranveer and I weren’t locked-down apart: Deepika Padukone

Thirteen years back, she made a dream debut with Om Shanti Om, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. Since then, Deepika Padukone has had nothing less than a smashing journey in Bollywood. The actor though, on her part, is filled with gratitude for whatever she has achieved.

“Honestly, when I think about it, it doesn’t feel like 13 years. But on that particular day (November 9), when you get all the messages and look at the social media, you realise, ‘Oh okay, it’s indeed been 13 years.’ I do feel that it’s been an incredible journey with lots of learning, ups-and-downs. But at the end of the day, if I were to look back, there is only a feeling of gratitude,” Hindustan Times quoted her as saying.

Talking of films, a few days ago, Padukone started work on director Shakun Batra’s next yet-untitled directorial, amid the pandemic, in Goa followed by schedules in Mumbai. How was it to get back on sets? The Padmaavat actor admits that by now, all the safety protocols have “kind of become second nature.” She added, “Now, we know what the drill is and all of us take extra precautions, in terms of following guidelines, wearing masks and even sanitisation, of not just our hands but all the equipment too. Before the shoot, we are also taken through a drill of what it’s going to be like. Initially though, it was exhausting.”

Surely, the Covid-19 induced lockdown has affected everyone. But in a way, has it been a blessing in disguise for DP as she got to spend more time with hubby Ranveer Singh? “Absolutely. We were certainly not complaining,” she replied. “Lockdown has, of course, been a difficult time and that’s why, the one thing that I absolutely feel, this year, is gratitude. Just to be able to be at home with each other and being safe... Thank God, we didn’t get locked down without each other, which happened to quite a few people. So, what more can we ask for?”

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