Deepika Padukone has made it five in a row. With Cocktail hitting the bull's eye last year, three major successes already in her kitty this year (Chennai Express, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Race 2) and fourth (Ram Leela) already in the making, Deepika is on a dream run. As the weekday collections start pouring in and promise some added moolah in the offering, Deepika settles down for a quick tete-e-tete.
"I don't think anyone of us expected this kind of love and response from audience, industry and trade," says Deepika when asked if the kind of opening that Ram Leela enjoyed was beyond expectations, "On Friday when I was getting all the calls and the congratulatory messages, I pretty much broke down. It was so overwhelming as the film has been a culmination of everything. From audience acceptance to critical acclaim to box office success - Ram Leela has brought in all together. What more would one want?"
Not many were sure though whether Bhansali, Ranveer and you would make for an ideal combination.
"Yeah, so many people out there were writing off Bhansali," confesses Deepika, "They were questioning him whether he had lost his touch after two of his films (Guzaarish, Saawariya) didn't do well. To still have that kind of faith in the man and put everything in there leads to redemption, as is the case with Ram Leela. Now we all know what this man is capable of. He has shown how he can win audience's love and I am glad that Ranveer and I are a part of this."
For Eros, which has produced the film along with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film has proven to be a gold mine no less, what with 100 crore pretty much in the sight. Despite the costs involved in making the film, Deepika's sustained run, Ranveer's rugged charm and Bhansali's poetry on screen has ensured that everyone involved with Ram Leela eventually benefits from its success.