After all, how many 21-year olds can balance back-to-back double roles (Chandni Chowk to China also sees Deepika playing two characters), look stunning at award fests in between international shoot schedules and manage to keep the media at bay from reporting frivolous stories about her relationship with the equally hot poster boy Ranbir Kapoor.

But with her sheer sense of what qualifies as ‘star’ behaviour, Deepika has been doing Bollywood’s balancing act as effortlessly as those who have inherited filmi genes. And this may just be the tip of the iceberg for Ms Padukone whose sophisticated charms are unlikely to go unnoticed by potential mother-in-law Neetu Singh who came from an unequally non-filmi background but hit the right notes when it came to establishing a public image that was befit of a ‘Kapoor’ bahu.

With her very first film Om Shanti Om she has given Dard-e-Disco to millions of hearts. Right now undoubtedly she is the hottest face of Bollywood. Lets get candid with Deepika Padukone in a tete-a-tete.

So post Om Shanti Om producers are running after you with bagful of roles and sackful of moolahs?
Yes I am getting my share of attention and quite a number of roles as well. But I have a long way to go and need to groom myself constantly to meet the expectations of my producers, directors and fans.

Don't you think that your success was assured the moment you signed your first film opposite the box office Badshah Shah Rukh Khan?
I am really lucky that every thing fell in place perfectly in my very first step to Bollywood. Of course I will always remain indebted to director Farah Khan and Shah Rukh for considering me for the film. But give me some credits as well (laughs).

In what way has the film Om Shanti Om affected your private life?
I am still to register all that has happened to me post Om Shanti Om. The overnight fame, awards, millions of fan mails, interviews being taken, being called the 'Bollywood sensation…' all these are new to me. Despite being the daughter of badminton champ Prakash Padukone, and being a model for quite some time I was not used to so much media exposure and attention.

You too used to play badminton like your father. So why did you suddenly change the stream?
Initially I followed my father’s footsteps and started playing badminton. Most people do not know that I even played badminton at the national level. But after sometime I realised that my heart is on modelling. But I never thought of becoming an actor at any point of my life. It was only from my second year in modelling that I started getting film offers. But I was only 18 then and decided not to jump into films till I am serious about it.

You are only 22. Don’t you miss doing normal things a girl of your age does?
I moved out of home in Bangalore to work in Mumbai at a tender age. So that naturally has made me a lot more mature than my contemporary girls. But there is a price to be paid for every thing. I do normal things and have a life outside the studios as well.

Your off-screen chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor is the most talked about affair at present. Any comments?
This is the first time I am truly in love and hence we decided not to hide our feelings from public. Being in love is the loveliest thing to happen. Besides I am not a person who is frivolous in relationships.