Deepika Padukone is one actress who certainly knows what she wants. She understands that after a couple of big hits to her credit the challenge is to keep her eyes wide open at every moment not be overtly choosy and pick the best of projects that are coming her way.

Whether it was her alleged proximity to Farhan Akhtar during the making of Karthik Calling Karthik (something which was rubbished in no uncertain terms by both the actors) or her so-called refusal to work with Ranbir (which was again passed off as idle gossip by people close to the actor), Deepika had to face an unnecessary storm when she would have rather spoken about her work. Though her overall success rate has been over 50 percent, calculations indicate that it is bound to go higher up in months to follow and why not? After all in a few days from now, she would be seen in Sajid Khan’s Housefull, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, Karan Johar’s Break Ke Baad and Yash Raj Films’ (tentatively titled) Lafange Parinde.

In a happy professional scenario that she is currently enjoying with a line up of projects round the corner, she is also forced to spend her time and energy in response to insinuations that she could well be dating Siddharth Mallya son of the owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, an IPL team for which Deepika Padukone is the Brand Ambassador. "If I am sitting with the owner of my IPL team, there is no reason why I should be linked up to him", Deepika flares up the moment this topic of discussion opens up, "If I am the face of the team, isn't it obvious that I would be sitting up with? I would be there with him supporting my team, right? It's but obvious that I would also be photographed. But does that mean I am going around with a guy? Come on let's grow up. All of this just doesn't make any sense at all."

Perhaps this is also because of her current 'single status' "You know, all of this has become way too predictable", Deepika forces a smile here, "Every fortnight there is one link up or another. Today, even if I go out with my cousin brother, I am sure to see a headline next morning with announcement of yet another new relationship of mine. Really, it's all such a big joke now."

How are her parents reacting to such 'jokes'? Don't they get furious when stories about her daughter fill tabloids for all the wrong reasons when instead she should have been in news for the plethora of work that she currently had in hand. "I think even my parents have really given up now", she sighs, "There is absolutely nothing for my parents as well to react at all. There are no clarifications required. All they want now is to read about the work that I am doing and this is what they expect from people as well."

With so much work happening and no play, isn’t she worried of a burnout? “Honestly, I don’t look at working in films as a job. I really enjoy performing and what I do is something that gives me maximum pleasure and satisfaction. I am better off facing the camera,” smiles Deepika. “In any case, I, for sure, am taken well care of both on and off the sets. I feel comfortable and secure and there are no complaints whatsoever.”

What she doesn’t state explicitly is that the demand of the situation for her is to be overtly aggressive about her work and continue to strive for going higher up in quick time. “I definitely want the fire in me to keep going. I am not quite keen on resting right now. This is why I don’t intend to sit down, relax and feel that since the going has been good, let me take it easy. I don’t want to feel too comfortable about my movies. I would rather work hard,” states Deepika in a perfect tone.

With the trio of Kareena, Katrina and Priyanka being the choice of quite a few when it comes to quintessential Bollywood fare, does she harbour any intentions of breaking through the competition and catch hold of that crown of ‘Number One Actress’ in Bollywood? “See, if I am good at what I do, everything will fall in place”, says Deepika without mincing any words. “If I am honest to my work, I will get all the right films, endorsements, fan following and of course money. I don’t intend to get into the numbers business since my work should speak for itself.”

She seems to have a thing for working with actors who, as referred to in industry parlance, are designated ‘seniors’. Shah Rukh, Akshay and Saif are well into their 40s though to give her fair credit, Deepika is also managing it well by doing films with Ranbir, Abhishek, Farhan, Imran and Neil. Still, one can’t help but ask Deepika this question – as an actor; does an age gap really make a difference? “No, I don’t think it makes a difference,” comes an expected reply. “What is important is whether the person opposite me fits the role or not.

Talking about ‘senior actors’, there is one actor whom she would love to have as her co-star in time to come. A few months back, there was a strong buzz that she would be doing a film called Kick that would feature one of her favourite stars – Salman Khan. “Yes, I am really looking forward to working with Salman. In fact we were supposed to be paired up much earlier but then a couple of films didn’t quite work out. That’s sad but I am sure that in near future, we would be paired opposite each other. The reports of us working together in Kick are just plain rumours,” says Deepika.

Love Aaj Kal was one of the biggest hits of 2009 before 3 Idiots happened, Deepika didn’t quite paint the town red with her achievement. Doesn’t she feel though that she still missed out on all the acclaim? While Imtiaz and Saif did benefit a lot from the success of the film, her low key approach perhaps made her loose out on a lot more visibility that she could have gained had she been more vociferous about her success?

“It is just a beginning for me and not the end of the road. Hence, it didn’t make sense for me to begin celebrating so soon; after all I still have a lot more to achieve. I don’t like to tom-tom about my success. It was just my fourth film and it was a great feeling when it did so well. Having said that, I couldn’t sit down and say that I was satisfied.