After starting her career with Farah-Shahrukh Khan’s joint production, Om Shanti Om, Deepika Pudokone feels that her upcoming project Happy New Year is more of a homecoming.
Happy New Year which is slated to release this Diwali is another joint venture between Shahrukh Khan and Farah Khan with Deepika being cast opposite the ‘Bollywood Badshah’ yet again.
“Happy New Year is a homecoming for me. The way they (Shahrukh and Farah) made me feel has brought back memories of Om Shanti Om. Even the way Farah calls me ‘baby’ and I call her ‘maa’,” Pudokone told The Deccan Chronicle.
She further added that, “Farah takes certain liberties with me and so do I. The way we talk to each other is special. In fact, a lot of time we would sit together and remember old times. They are family.”
The film, which is directed by Farah, features an ensemble cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah, apart from Shahrukh and Deepika.
Padukone who has come in full circle as an actor feels that her career is in safe hands when working with the two Khans.
“They gave me such a beautiful launch in the industry and presented me so well. They took the responsibility and understood that this girl’s career is in our hand,” she said.
Pudokone, who won a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Female) for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela, said she was the last one to join the multi-starrer.
“When I had just finished Chennai Express I got a call from Farah Khan and she asked me about Happy New Year. The film happened at the last moment and my dates were free. I am happy that I fit in because at that time even Imtiaz Ali’s film also shifted,” said Pudokone, adding that she is happy to be a part of Happy New Year even though the role was initially offered to someone else.
Pudokone plays a Marathi bar dancer and spoke in detail about her character stating, “Mohini enjoys dancing and she worships dance. She and Abhishek’s character Nandu have grown up together. I become the teacher of the gang and I teach them to dance once they come together. Mohini is the only member of her family who earns,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2014.
Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.