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Afilm that reintroduced actor Deepika Padukone to her fans was Cocktail (2012). As the uninhibited and emotionally raw Veronica in the film, the actor moved away from girl-next-door roles into a performance considered one of her best. As it clocks nine years today, Padukone remembers the role which is very close to her heart.
“I’ve always believed while you put a little part of yourself in every character you play, you also carry a part of that character with you forever. Veronica will always be one of the most special characters I’ve played; one that changed a lot for me professionally and impacted me personally,” she says.
So does she believe Veronica was a turning point for her Bollywood career, which started with Om Shanti Om (2007)? “Yes. If a character resonated with millions, then obviously there was something about it that audiences empathised with,” she says.
The film, directed by Homi Adajania and written by Imtiaz Ali, also starred Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty. Reminiscing how she prepped for the role, the 35-year-old shares Veronica’s personality is not one she was familiar with at that stage in her life.
“When I was given the script to read I assumed it was for Meera’s character (played by Penty). Imtiaz Ali called me up one day and requested me to re-read the script for Veronica. After a couple of days and giving it some thought, I understood what he meant and saw what he saw. While I had butterflies in my tummy, I also knew I was ready for it,” Padukone says.
But she is quick to add, “I don’t think I would have been able to do what I did if it wasn’t for Homi Adajania. He gave me wings to fly and made me believe I could do no wrong. With that belief, we were able to create a character that will live in our hearts forever.”
Veronica will always be one of the most special characters I’ve played.