Mumbai: Romantic comedy Cocktail has once again paired Deepika Padukone with Saif Ali Khan but the actress says the new film is different from Love Aaj Kal which brought the two actors together for the first time. Cocktail is the third film starring Saif and Deepika after Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal and Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan.
“The minute people see me and Saif together, it reminds them of Love Aaj Kal, but Cocktail is a different film. It is written by Imitiaz and directed by Homi Adajania.
“The film is a love story but it is also about friendship, betrayal, fun, trust… so I think in terms of the film it is very different from Love Aaj Kal,” Deepika said. The film also stars debutante Diana Penty and is produced under Saif’s banner Illuminati Films. Its recently released trailer has created quite a buzz after showing Deepika donning a red bikini.
“The promo has been released two days back and the response has been fantastic. I am glad that people have liked it,” she said. About her character in the film, Deepika said, “I play Veronica, someone who is self assured, confident about life and the way she conducts herself.” For Cocktail, Deepika was offered both the roles – one that she is playing and the one essayed by Diana. “Producer Dinesh Vijan was kind enough to offer me both the roles and asked me to choose the one I would like to play. I took it as a challenge. Even Imitiaz suggested that Meera from Love Aaj Kal is so similar to the other character of this film so it would be interesting for me to play Veronica. The role has been challenging for me,” she said.
Deepika will also be seen in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, a romantic film directed by Ayan Mukerji under Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. The film pairs Deepika opposite ex-flame Ranbir Kapoor.
Even though this would be Deepika’s first film with Johar’s production house, the actress credits the filmmaker with the standing that she has in the film industry today.
“I remember meeting Karan when I was doing Om Shanti Om. Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan introduced me to him and I remember how warm he was towards me, the kind of encouragement he gave me when I was new in the industry… I think I am here today because of people like him,” Deepika said.
Johar’s birthday bash is being hosted at a five-star hotel in the city by famous fashion designer Manish Malhotra, where a lot of Bollywood actors including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have been invited. (PTI)