Deepika Padukone turns 22

Here's raising a toast to the flavour of the season

Chandrima Pal | Buzz18

If there is a serious contender to the Aishwarya Rai phenomenon, it has to be Deepika Padukone. The model-actress, who had a great run in 2007, turns 22 on January 5 and in style. If stats are to be believed, Deepika is a huge hit with men, who are completely smitten by her luminous eyes, winsome smile and feline grace. The similarities with Rai do not end there. Deepika, honestly speaking, may not have impressed critics with her acting skills, but boy, has she managed to win a string of celebrity admirers fighting for her attention!

The Kingfisher calendar girl has come a long way indeed. I remember a few years ago, meeting Deepika and her father, ace badminton player Prakash Paduokone at a suburban Mumbai home. I was interviewing the father-daughter for a publication that was yet to be launched. But the Padukones were gracious enough to grant me time.

It was a rather humble home in Lokhandwala, with a tiny living room overlooking the busy bazaar area. We chatted for an hour, the Padukones and I, about life in Bangalore and Bombay, about Deepika's plans and how her family was in a way unaffected by her celebrityhood. Deepika at that time was being touted as the next big supermodel.

Acting offers were strictly under wraps. Even as I grilled her, she chose her words carefully, her voice soft, curiously girly (imagine my surprise when I heard her speak on screen in OSO!), but firm. Without makeup, dressed in an nondescript kurti and white pants, she was hardly the glamorous thing that emerges from the surf in a hot bikini. But then having earlier seen the same girl ooze confidence and sex appeal draped in a Tarun Tahiliani creation, I was certainly not surprised.

When it came to the photosession, our photographer had a tough time drawing out the chemistry between father and daughter. They seemed too reticent. Even as we coaxed Padukone senior to put his arms around his daughter and draw her closer to him, he looked awkward. A perfect genleman, he tried to oblige us, but was obviously ill at ease with the whole exercise. Deepika smiled, "As a family we rarely express our feelings in public." Guess, the then 19-year-old had inadvertently learnt her first big lesson of stardom.

Happy Birthday, Deepika. 5 January.

yea...i noe!!
thanks 4 sharing!! i love deepika....she is very pretty

oh she looks gorgeous in that pic.. lol.. i did not read the article 😆

WOW! HBD Deepika. Wish you all the best! She's younger than me. 😆

Originally posted by: mona21

oh she looks gorgeous in that pic.. lol.. i did not read the article 😆

There's not much in the article😆. Everything has been said before that she is the next big thing and that their family is very simple.

Originally posted by: mona21

oh she looks gorgeous in that pic.. lol.. i did not read the article 😆

hehe 😆 i dont at times if its to long😆

she looks gawjus in the picture😳

Deepika Padukone has flown to Australia to cheer 'close friend' Yuvraj Singh in the ongoing four-match India-Australia Test series.

The Om Shanti Om actress will also celebrate her 22nd birthday on January 5 with the cricketer.

Deepika is expected to spend a month in Australia for the shooting of her Yash Raj film. But the actress left Mumbai two days before the start of her shooting schedule (which will begin on January 7) to spend time with Yuvraj.

"She wanted to cheer him up and also spend quality time with him on her birthday," our source tells Gullu.

Yuvi would definitely need the cheering after his dismal performance against the Aussies, having managed just 17 runs in three innings so far.

Deepika and Yuvraj have been linked up by the media on numerous occasions, though the couple have always mainatined that they are 'good friends.' Before Yuvraj came into the picture, Deepika was paired up with Indian captain M S Dhoni, but she denied that as well.

Deepika's Yash Raj film will costar Ranbir Kapoor, and will be directed by Siddharth Anand (of Salaam Namaste).

Courtesy:rediff.com

Thanx for sharing. Deepika looks very pretty in red.

thats a nice pic and thanks for sharing shes done alot since her last birthday wishing her more suceess

thanks for sharing the info my birthday is after her 😳