| On the private front, the beauteous one has been gobbling up newsprint because of her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor. The lady sure seems to know her priorities and looking at her confidence, we don't think it will take long for her to prove her mettle in bollywood. Here Deepika Padukone bares her heart in an interview. Why beat around the bush? Are you dating Ranbir Kapoor?
Am I? Yes.
No, we're just friends. Please spare me the world's biggest clich. (Amused) I'm not seeing him. We've known each other for a while we get along very well, we're friends. Is that a crime? But the media thinks differently. You guys are concocting a story that doesn't exist. Thanks but Ranbir and you haven't even worked together. Where did you meet up?
At a social gathering and we gelled very well, since then we've been friends. It's really all about the company you like to keep. You know what? I treat him the way I treat my other friends. Like what? You say, "Go, get a coffee for me"?
Yes why not? After all, he's my friend nothing wrong with chatting over a cup of coffee. What about the story about you walking with him into a five-star hotel, well past midnight?
We were in a group and what does time have anything to do with it? Well the hand-in-hand scenario.
Ha! Listen, the media is going berserk. Today, if I walk into any place hand-in-hand even with a girlfriend, the next day there will be reports that I was with Ranbir hand-in-hand. No one sees our other friends who're constantly with us. We're always in a group. But it's made out as if there were only the two of us. Not done! Do you both laugh about what's printed the next morning in the papers?
What's there to laugh about? We both know it's not true. We just read it the stuff and that's it. Who are the other friends in this group?
(Silence) Aren't Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja part of this group?
Now, this is a bit much. Okay, aren't they friends of yours and Ranbir's?
(Pause) I don't know about Ranbir but yes, they are my friends. We do hang out together. Are you excited about being paired with Ranbir Kapoor in Siddharth Raaj Anand's next film for Yashraj?
Listen, I'll talk about my future projects only when the time's right. But this news is official now.
(Coolly) I'd rather keep mum. Officially or not why did you break up with Nihar Pandya?
I won't deny the fact that I was dating Nihar Pandya for two years. I'd known him before we started dating we were friends. Today, again we're friends. I wouldn't like to divulge the reasons why we broke up it's personal. Was it because of Ranbir?
(Impatiently) That's between Nihar and me. Ranbir and I are friends. Isn't Nihar trying to get into films?
He was he has a role in Marigold. But he's more into his family business. Weren't you living in his flat?
That's not true. I was always shuttling between my hometown Bangalore and my work place Mumbai. I'm still very close to his family. Talk is that now you've bought a flat of your own.
Yes. It makes me feel so good to be an independent girl at the age of 21. I've bought my own house in Bandra. Isn't that something? It's been only two years since I started working here things have moved fast for me, touchwood. Where is your flat in Bandra?
Now, don't ask me my postal address, please. Are Ranbir and Nihar friends?
Huh? I don't know if they know each other. What does love mean to you?
For me compatibility is very important in a relationship. Your ideal guy should be?
Compatible, calm, cool, and full of humour. | 
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