'People shouldn't remember me for my link-ups'

You've got to admire Deepika Padukone's poise.

The young actress manages to maintain a dignified air despite questions about her break-up with Ranbir Kapoor.

It helps too that she has films to keep her busy. After romancing Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal last year, the leggy actress is concentrating on her upcoming movie Karthik Calling Karthik opposite Farhan Akhtar. The film releases on February 26.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf caught up with Deepika for more.

Your rocking chemistry with Farhan in the promos has become the talk of the town.

Certain people can hit it off instantly. Either you have it or you don't. I never gave much thought to the whole thing. When Farhan and I were working, we never noticed [the chemistry]. It was after the promos came out and people started commenting on it that we noticed it.

Sometimes, the most unusual pairings work. The script plays a part too when it creates moments for such chemistry to come to the fore.

What is Karthik Calling Karthik about?

It is a romantic thriller about Karthik's journey. His life changes after receiving a call from another person whose name is also Karthik. It is also about Karthik's journey with Shonali [Deepika's character in the film].

I play a Bengali girl, born and brought up in Mumbai. She is independent and confident; a modern girl of today. She speaks her mind and is sensible yet emotional and loveable.

Is that your life story since you come from Bangalore and have now settled in Mumbai?

In a way, it is. But Shonali is the one who takes the first step, which is not the case with me.

Image: A scene from Karthik Calling Karthik

Farhan Akhtar's first romantic role

Farhan Akhtar's Karthik Calling Karthik tells a unique story, and sees the actor-director share the screen with Deepika Padukone.

The film's promos look good, and Farhan may have yet another winner on his hands when the film releases next month.

He tells Nithya Ramani what to expect from Karthik Calling Karthik, directed by first-timer Vijay Lalwani.

What genre would you say Karthik Calling Karthik belongs to?

Well, it definitely isn't a horror film. It creates some kind of suspense as to who this Karthik is who is making the (telephone) call. That is revealed at some point in the film. That's why it is a thriller.

There is also a beautiful love story between Karthik and Shonali (Deepika Padukone). The crust of the film is that Karthik wants Shonali in his life but he is not confident enough to tell her that. This lack of confidence has made him a miserable and lonely person.

Suddenly, he gets a call, and things start changing for him. Vijay (Lalwani, writer-director) has written some really nice scenes between Deepika and me. Of course, I cannot reveal the twist. You must watch the film.


Image: Farhan Akhtar

Karthik Calling Karthik music is easy on the ears

Sometimes a soundtrack is all about breeziness, and that seems to be the brief for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy as they deliver an album of songs trying really hard to come across as real easy -- listening, that is.

The album kicks off with Hey Ya, a refreshing track by Shankar, Loy and Clinton Cerejo, and it starts by setting up a good, fingersnapping groove. The lyrics are standard hinglish-meets-bad r'n'b pap, but the song works nicely overall. The whoa-ho-ho vocals especially do well, making sure the end result is good, soft fun.

Next up is Uff Teri Ada, featuring Shankar along with Alyssa Mendonsa. The track takes a little while to get going, but Mendonsa's voice is perfectly suited for her rapid opening vocals, after which the dance-floor rhythm kicks in and stays solid. The chorus is punchy enough to keep the track danceable, and Mahadevan vocally provides the odd surprise to keep things interesting.

KK takes on Jaane Ye Kya Hua, a very pleasant harmonica-driven ballad doused in craving. The vocals gel quite strikingly well with Farhan Akhtar during the chorus, and even though KK doesn't quite sound like him, the feel is similar.

Kaisi Hai Ye Udaasi has Kailash Kher and Sukanya Purayastha manning the microphones. The song is mellow yet Kher sings it in his typically intense way, and it's a good thing Purayastha rescues it with a very listenable drawl much more appropriate to the subject.

Then comes Karthik Calling Karthik, the movie's theme song predictably made out of beep-boob keypad tones and assorted phone sounds. The lyrics are intriguing, though.

Bring up the guitars. Karthik 2.0 is performed and composed by the Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale, and the track seems authentic even though it doesn't go anywhere beyond some standard guitar-riffs. Still, as a theme tune, this is sexier than the last track, and has the potential to be interestingly moulded into a film.

Then come the obligatory remixes. The KCK remix, however, by Kale and the Punditz, is actually an improvement on the original track, a woofer-thumping retake. The Hey Ya and Uff Teri Ada remixes are standard issue stuff, pale and needless attempts to spice up tracks that already kinda work.

Despite a couple of tracks that should do well -- the first two, and the Punditz stuff perhaps -- the soundtrack doesn't deliver anything exceptional. Still, it's perfectly pleasant -- and that is likely all it ever tried to be. Easy listening, remember?

Deepika Padukone: A modern girl, who smokes...

Deepika Padukone went white with fear when she was told that she had to smoke cigarettes for her role in Karthik Calling Karthik. She believed that the role would get her addicted to smoking. So it was up to producer Ritesh Sidhwani to put Deepika’s fears to rest.

Our source said, “Sidhwani ordered for nicotine-free cigarettes for Deepika. In Karthik Calling Karthik, Deepika plays a very modern girl who smokes, Farhan advises her against it and eventually succeeds in getting her to quit smoking. In real life though, Deepika hates smoking. The very thought of smoking for the film was enough to make her tense. However, the organic cigarettes saved the day and the scenes were shot without any problems.”

Talking about the issue, Sidhwani said, “It’s a film about a lovable loser and a modern, hip girl. Farhan makes Deepika quit smoking. So we have a nice message in the end. We didn’t want to be responsible for inculcating a bad habit and that’s why these organic cigarettes were needed.”

'Karthik Calling Karthik' is a romantic thriller: Deepika

'Karthik Calling Karthik' is a romantic thriller: Deepika
Model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone has revealed that she plays a "bold" character in Farhan Akhtar's forthcoming production 'Karthik Calling Karthik'.



"'Karthik Calling Karthik' is a romantic thriller and my role is quite bold and optimistic in the film as opposite to Farhan's which is a very pessimistic one," Deepika told reporters.

Directed by Vijay Lalwani, the film is about a man who gets phone calls from himself. It is co-produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under their banner Excel Entertainment and Amit Chandra and Vijay Lalwani of Magic Beans.

The 23-year-old actress was in the capital to launch two new soap variants of Fiama Di Wills, which is also the associate sponsor of the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW).

Deepika, the brand ambassador of Fiama Di Wills, also unveiled designer Sumeet Varma's preview collection for WLIFW titled 'The Life of a Swan-Swan lake'.

Asked if she preferred Indian or western wear, she said: "Personally I like Indian dresses, but I am ok with western outfits as well. While choosing a dress what I see is whether I am comfortable in it or not."

Once a state-level badminton player, the actress is also game for promoting other sports.

"I played badminton with Aamir Khan for a cause. (And) I will try the same way if I can promote other games like athletics and basketball too along with badminton," said Deepika, who was last seen in romantic drama "Love Aaj Kal".

Asked about her Diwali plans, she said: "I will be with my family."