Mumbai, March 18: A die-hard Rishi Kapoor fan, Deepika Padukone, the star of 2007 blockbuster `Om Shanti Om`, had to pinch herself when she met him - not as a fan but his son Ranbir`s girlfriend.
"It`s amazing. But in his younger days, my dad (badminton champ Prakash Padukone) was often told he resembled Rishi Uncle. I grew up as one of his fans, saw `Karz` and `Kabhi Kabhie` a number of times. When Ranbir took me to meet his parents, I was reliving my childhood images of the most compatible couple I`ve ever seen on screen."
Ranbir`s parents have taken to her in a big way. "Rishi uncle is so warm. As for Neetu aunty, she has a natural grace and charm about her. She`s very poised and articulate. I`ve met her many more times than I`ve met Rishi Uncle. We`re going to be working together. We read a script together recently. He`s so passionate about cinema. I`ve so much to learn from him."
Deepika is full of praise for the Kapoor couple for their children`s upbringing. "Both Ranbir and his sister Riddhima have been brought up with the right values. They come from such an illustrious family and yet they`re so down-to-earth. I see many similarities between their upbringing and mine. Though both Ranbir and I were exposed to celebrities from childhood, our parents have made sure we`re firmly rooted to reality."
So is she looking at a life ahead of Ranbir? "Right now, we both have our careers to focus on. But we`re both very comfortable in our relationship. Now that we`ve come out in the open about our relationship, our parents are very happy. Beyond that, it`s too early to talk about marriage."
Poised, in control of herself and utterly confident, the 22-year-old answers charges of unfair conduct levelled by cricketer Yuvraaj Singh`s mother with elegant aplomb. Deepika was earlier linked to the cricketer.
"I really don`t think she said anything against me. If she had a grudge, she would have called me. I always say no outside source can know what kind of relationship two people share."
"I spoke to her after the statements attributed to her came out. I`ve always shared a fantastic rapport with her. She`s a wonderful and strong person. I`ve learnt a lot from her. As a woman, I look up to Yuvraaj`s mother. She`s a multi-tasking mother. She has single-handedly brought up her two children. Yuvraaj is doing extremely well for himself and his younger brother who has just started out is also doing very well. I wish the family all the best," Deepika said.
Bureau Report