One reason why Deepika is a favorite is because she comes through as a better role model for teenagers and fits the image of what a contemporary Indian girl can aspire to be better than the more established actresses like Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor. In the under 25-age group her competitors are Katrina Kaif and Sonam Kapoor both of whom appear less versatile.

Imtiaz Ali, for example, signed up Deepika despite his producer Saif Ali Khan's obvious preference for Kareena Kapoor. The film has the handsome Saif in the main lead and is going on the floors in May this year. Kareena has been very hurt by this ouster from his beau’s film, which she thought should have naturally fallen in her kitty, instead of going to an outsider like Deepika Padukone.

The buzz doing the rounds in the industry is that none other than the director Imtiaz Ali, who thought that Deepika Padukone, with her ample oomph appeal, would more suit the role than gorgeous Kareena, caused Bebo’s ouster. Imtiaz Ali, who had directed Kareena Kapoor in just released ‘ Jab We Met’, which met with a resounding success at the box office, was of the view that Kareena was the right choice for the character of Geet with Shahid in ‘ Jab….’ but would be completely wrong choice for this film.

Sources say that Imtiaz Ali has worked with Bebo in ‘ Jab We Met’ and is very fond of her, but he is a hardheaded fellow and does not take his casting decisions on the basis of his relations with an actor or actress. Instead, Imtiaz goes by the rulebook and chooses the actors most suitable for the plot of the film and this time Deepika Padukone was the most suited combination with Saif, and so he insisted on having her in the film.

Explaining why he opted for Deepika over Kareena, Imtiaz Ali says, "It's very simple. Deepika suits the role. Kareena who is my absolute favorite, does not. Fortunately or unfortunately, my fondness for an actor is not the criteria for casting. I cannot cast Kareena wrongly, not after casting her so perfectly as Geet in Jab We Met."

Deepika has not only taken bollywood by storm but also the nations heartthrob and cricketer Yuvraj Singh. Deepika- Yuvraj saga had started when the hot and sexy ‘ Shanti’ met the handsome cricketer for the first time at the Prive nightclub, about a month back. It was sort of a first sight love thing for the two most eligible bachelors at the nightclub.

Sources from the inner circle of Yuvraj Singh say that the two are not only comfortable with each other, but also very serious about the future of their relationship. Yuvraj Singh has gone to the extent of declaring to one of his friends on the networking site, Facebook that he was dating Deepika and was very happy about the whole romantic experience.

Even before this, Deepika had played the perfect hostess for Yuvraj Singh and his guests at the birthday party of the cricketer at Enigma hosted on nineteenth of last month. It looked as if the couple was making an unofficial declaration about their intent and love to the whole world through that party.

Latest is that the sizzling hot and sexy bombshell has left for Sydney on the invitation of her new love Yuvraj Singh to watch the on going cricket match and thereby removing any doubts about their relationship. Dashing cricketer has not only invited the bollywood’s dusky lass, but is also sponsoring her air tickets, stay and other expenses in the Kangaroo country.

This could turn out to be the love story of 2008. A friend of the Padukones said, "Deepika is in Australia in her own capacity and the India-Australia Test match just happens to be taking place around the same time. But one thing is sure — Yuvraj and Deepika are dating each other."

Meanwhile, a source close to the Singh family said, "The two are very close to each other. In two years' time, if things go well, marriage could be on the cards. But right now, both of them are focused on their respective professions."