It’s all about family for Deepika Padukone. As the actor turns 26 today, she will be spending time with her family members instead of hitting a party at a club. Father Prakash Padukone, mother Ujjala and sister Anisha have flown into Mumbai especially for the big day.
"I am celebrating my birthday with family and close friends," confirms Deepika, who also plans to make a hush-hush visit to Siddhivinayak temple with her parents. The revered temple is close to her new swanky pad in Worli.
Last year, the leading lady had celebrated her birthday in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen; the city she was born in. This year though, she is keen to spend as much time as possible with her parents, given that she was away shooting for Homi Adajania’s film with Saif Ali Khan in South Africa for almost two months. "A simple home-cooked south Indian meal is my birthday wish now," she says.
Ask Deepika if there are any birthday gifts she has her heart set on and she smiles: “I think my dream home was a gift to myself and I’m enjoying that at the moment.” The Om Shanti Om actor quickly adds, though, that she’d like to seriously take up learning to play a musical instrument this year.
In 2011, Deepika had moved into her plush apartment worth Rs 16 crore in town, leaving behind Bandra, ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s neighbourhood. But this year, she is looking forward to working with him in friend Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.
“I’m excited about Yeh Jawani... because it’s a story of pure love. Plus, working with Dharma Productions feels like an achievement, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my birthday,” Deepika says.
In 2011, Deepika had moved into her plush apartment worth Rs 16 crore in town, leaving behind Bandra, ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s neighbourhood. But this year, she is looking forward to working with him in friend Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.
“I’m excited about Yeh Jawani... because it’s a story of pure love. Plus, working with Dharma Productions feels like an achievement, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my birthday,” Deepika says.
Does she feel more mature as she turns a year older? “I think I’ve always been mature, which is why my parents were comfortable with me moving away from home at a young age. But yes, with every year comes new experiences, and that makes you grow as a person.”