Deepika Padukone Clearly The Top Bollywood Starlet With Amazing 2013

MUMBAI – Deepika Padukonehas had an amazing runin 2013, what with four bigfilms (Race 2, Yeh JawaaniHai Deewani, Chennai Expressand now Goliyon KiRas Leela, Ram-Leela) toher name. And she’sbeen more than justthe pretty femalelead; her actinghas beenn o t e w o r t h ytoo. Here, shetalks about success,wanting to work withSalman Khan, and why thatwon’t really upset the otherKhan, Shah Rukh.To set the record straight, areyou doing Sooraj Barjatya’snext with Salman Khan?No, I haven’t been approachedor met Soorajji, neither haveI met Salman recently. So Idon’t know where these storiesare coming from. Havingsaid that, I really am lookingforward to doing somethingwith Salman because I feel it’soverdue.Some people wondered whyyou weren’t on his reality showto promote your recent film.It’s unfortunate that I couldn’tgo on Bigg Boss. I was in Goashooting for my next film, soRanveer (Singh; co-star) hadto go alone.Do you feel — as reports suggest— that if you work withSalman, Shah Rukh Khan maynot like it?Absolutely not. Forget aboutme, it makes them sound immature,which they are not.Salman and Shah Rukh arefond of me and I’m fond ofthem. And I think they bothare happy for me as far as mywork is concerned. I don’tthink one would have an issueif I work with the other.Deepika Padukone has foursuccessful films in her kittyIt has been a long time sinceRanbir Kapoor and you brokeup. Are you open to the possibilityof a new relationship?Not soon. Of course, youcan’t plan such things. But I’mnot ready to emotionally invest,and I won’t be able to dojustice to a relationship I getinto. I’m happy focusing myenergies on my work. I don’tfeel the need to be in a relationship.You’ve had four big releasesthis year. Do you feel you’reahead in the race right now?It feels nice when people appreciateyour work. But it’s justthe beginning. I believe I stillhave a lot more to achieve. I’venever been concerned aboutwhat anyone else is doing. Ihave always focused on whatI am doing, and bettering myselfwith each film.