Touring to promote their films is something most actors don’t quite enjoy, what with back-to-back, repetitive interviews, numerous appearances and same-day flights.
But it has its benefits for actors who live away from home. Like Deepika. Any opportunity that lets her travel home to Bangalore is welcome.
Deepika was here to promote Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani recently. It didn’t skip anybody’s attention that she was alone, sans co-star Ranbir Kapoor.
She said, “We are trying to cover as many cities as possible. Our director (Ayan Mukerji)thought we should promote the film individually in some cities. With me being Bangalore’s sweetheart, I was asked to come here. Ranbir is in Kolkata.”
Do promotions really work? “I honestly believe, audiences are influenced by film trailers. Business has become so big that we need to reach as many people as possible and for that we(actors) do as much as we can,” Deepika said.
Story time
The film, YJHD, has its target set on young audiences. She said,“Yeh Jaw-aani... is a love story set in today’s times and is for youngsters. Of course, parents who associate with contemporary culture will also enjoy it. The film is not only about relationships of the boyfriend-girlfriend kind, but also about relationships we share with friends and family. It looks at the journey of four characters and how they evolve.”
Deepika says stories based on love are difficult to showcase and few directors can handle them well. “But Ayan has the knack of touching a chord with people. Even with Wake Up Sid, he made it a very simple, realistic sort of film that you could relate to,” she said.
Career cares
Her performance in Cocktail has set high expectations of Deepika. She said, “The intention is to better one's previous work. That is what drives me. That is what I see as competition. I want people to talk about my latest performance and say, ‘Wow, she has grown since her last film.’” YJHD pairs Deepika with Ranbir five years after they did so last in Bachna Ae Haseeno.
Deepika said, “I don’t think Bachna Ae Haseeno did justice to us as an on-screen couple and I am glad that we waited for this film to come together again. Also, Ayan is a friend and understands us. That has let him extract the best from both of us. I play Naina, who I identify with a lot.”