Deepika Padukone admits to being at a loss regarding personal experience of caste-based reservations, but Deepika Padukone has no qualms speaking her mind, as she does about her latest film — Aarakshan
Deepika Padukone had a privileged upbringing. The daughter of one of India's top badminton players, she was a rising sports star when the modelling bug bit. Then came acting.
After making her debut in a South Indian film in 2006, Padukone earned a starring role alongside Bollywood's biggest star Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om in 2007.
Now, as she embarks on an off-beat role in Aarakshan (Reservation), based on India's notorious caste system, she is quick to admit that the issue was not entirely familiar to her.
"For many Indians, the reservation issue is a hard-hitting reality. But honestly, I didn't feel for the issue strongly, because I have never really experienced it in my own life. And I truly feel that unless a person doesn't experience it for real, the importance and impact varies. But I have a learnt a lot about the issue during the filming," she tells tabloid!.
"I speak my mind and I speak honestly. I am not a celebrity who just makes controversial statements to sound interesting or to shock people. I can never do that."
Directed by acclaimed director Prakash Jha, Aarakshan tackles the sensitive subject of the reservation of seats and jobs based on people's social class as opposed to merit. The issue has caused major protests around the country recently.
The ensemble drama is massive in its scale and boasts an eclectic cast also comprising Saif Ali Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Prateik Babbar and Manoj Bajpai. But Padukone, 25, claims that the serious topic has been dealt with a deft hand. "It's not your run-of-the-mill romantic film with many song-and-dance sequences in it.
Deepika Padukone had a privileged upbringing. The daughter of one of India's top badminton players, she was a rising sports star when the modelling bug bit. Then came acting.
After making her debut in a South Indian film in 2006, Padukone earned a starring role alongside Bollywood's biggest star Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om in 2007.
Now, as she embarks on an off-beat role in Aarakshan (Reservation), based on India's notorious caste system, she is quick to admit that the issue was not entirely familiar to her.
"For many Indians, the reservation issue is a hard-hitting reality. But honestly, I didn't feel for the issue strongly, because I have never really experienced it in my own life. And I truly feel that unless a person doesn't experience it for real, the importance and impact varies. But I have a learnt a lot about the issue during the filming," she tells tabloid!.
"I speak my mind and I speak honestly. I am not a celebrity who just makes controversial statements to sound interesting or to shock people. I can never do that."
Directed by acclaimed director Prakash Jha, Aarakshan tackles the sensitive subject of the reservation of seats and jobs based on people's social class as opposed to merit. The issue has caused major protests around the country recently.
The ensemble drama is massive in its scale and boasts an eclectic cast also comprising Saif Ali Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Prateik Babbar and Manoj Bajpai. But Padukone, 25, claims that the serious topic has been dealt with a deft hand. "It's not your run-of-the-mill romantic film with many song-and-dance sequences in it.
