All models needn't become actors: Deepika

Four years ago, Deepika Padukone was spotted at random and asked if she was interested in featuring in the Kingfisher Calendar. There was no contest and no competition. Today, she is one of the three judges who will pick the face that will feature in the compilation. Judgement call

“I was not judged,” says Padukone, who finds it extremely hard to be a strict decision maker. But does that mean she will go easy on the girls? “I am sure these girls are nervous. It’s only natural when you are pitted against so many other girls and you are supposedly the best in the world. There are insecurities and there is a lot of competition, and I will be lenient on the models,” she says.

Deepika PadukoneA model-turned-actor herself, Padukone never had ‘films’ on her list of priorities when she started out. And neither does she intend on finding Bollywood faces from the ones in the competition. “I am looking for someone with a great face, body and personality. I am not looking for someone who has the potential to become an actor. This is not a hunt for that. If it happens to the contestants, then good for them,” says Padukone, who is on the panel with Siddharth Mallya, Milind Soman and Atul Kasbekar.

Even though she is currently finding it hard to promote her two consecutive releases, Break Ke Baad and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, she is happy with the variety she will present to her audiences. “The genres are in no way similar. Different viewers will enjoy different films. Break Ke Baad was a lot more challenging for me,” says Padukone, who plays an ambitious commitment-phobe in the film.

“My character doesn’t believe in relationships, marriage or a Facebook status, while I am someone who believes in marriage and commitment. In that sense, it was very hard to me to get into the character.”