Stars, they’re just like us. Or are they? It’s always fun to know how actors are in real life, when they’re not at an event or under any kind of public scrutiny. Someone on Quora asked what Deepika Padukone is in person and some people had interesting answers. Check them out!
Some answers have been edited for clarity.
1) “She’s so proper”
As part of my work, I have been fortunate to meet her in Dubai. For one, I found her stunningly beautiful without make-up. I have met many actresses off-screen but Deepika is (in my opinion) perfect from every angle. The unexpected thing I noticed about her as I got to spend more time with her, is that she is still middle-class in her attitude to life.
So proper and correct that I feel like there is a strict South Indian school-teacher hiding inside her. I found that endearing considering her stardom today. And how much the girl eats! It defies the laws of physics where all that food goes because it does not show.
When I asked her, she shrugged it off saying that she has a high metabolism because she is a sportsperson but almost every time I have met her, she has been eating something or the other. I really liked her and based on my interactions I think she is one of the kindest, most considerate stars in Bollywood. A rare thing.
2) “She’s really polite”
I was once working as a freelance waiter (that’s how I call it) for a catering company. I got this job to work at the premier of a shitty Indian movie called Shaadi No. 1. Now this was November 2005 – Way before Deepika Padukone was a known name. But she was amongst the top Indian models at that time.
I remember I was serving some starters when I passed by her. Recalling only her last name from mostly ‘Page-3’ of Bombay Times (where she was heavily featured in those days), I turned around and asked “Ms. Padukone?!” She smiled and nodded. Such a beautiful face, I tell you! And she was wearing traditional attire – a simple churidar dress – quite unusual for a model. I told her that she was my favourite model. She thanked me, and asked if we had any cold coffee.
For the next 10-15 minutes, I was running around and searching for a glass of the desired beverage. Unfortunately, it was not on the menu. Dejected, I returned and informed her. Seeing my sorry face, she patted my shoulder and said that it was okay, and that she would buy it later on. I was surprised by the lack of tantrums I expected from a top model like her. She smiled, thanked me again, and went to watch the movie.
3) “She didn’t return”
Well, I haven’t met her myself, but my mausi (aunt) did. She was in the theater when she went to the washroom and saw her. Because she was a huge fan, she ran to her to get her autograph. Deepika politely said that she was in a hurry and would surely return after a few minutes. My mausi waited but she did not come back.
4) “She got a lot of male attention”
She was my classmate at Mount Carmel College for 6 months before she moved to Bombay. She used to keep bunking classes due to her professional commitments- badminton and modelling. I think she lost a lot of attendance because of that and that’s why decided to leave college… But on the days that she used to visit college- she would come straight from the badminton court at Padukone Academy that’s down the road.
Deepika would be sweaty and still in her track pants. This is quite a big deal because MCC is like a fashion capital in Bangalore and all the girls are always dressed to the nines- a lot of them used to wear 4-5 inch heels as well, and this super model would be in black track-pants with jacket and zero make-up, her hair in a braid or a ponytail. I always felt she was quiet and well-mannered. Sitting in the last bench, not very studious, but a sweet girl. That doesn’t mean she didn’t have fun! She had a lot of male attention, but then all MCC girls got a lot of male attention. Guys would flock outside the gates of the college…
5) “She’s gorgeous”
I met with her on the way to Mumbai from Delhi back in 2012. We shared the same flight and I observed her activity throughout the journey. There’s no denying that despite being at the highest peak in her career, she’s a very down to earth person. She threw no tantrums, and was extremely polite and soft-spoken.
How nice! You can read more about this discussion on this Quora thread.