Just a year ago she was in Delhi shooting for Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal. Even there her co-star Saif Ali Khan had his lady-love Kareena Kapoor along, so that Deepika had voluntarily kept to herself.
“Not this time!” reports a source from Delhi. “Imran and Avantika have made Deepika feel most welcome and a part of their circle. In fact, Deepika is completely at home hanging around with Imran and Avantika .”
A private person by nature and known to stay aloof, Deepika has, for the first time, become so gregarious during shooting.
Says the source, “During the shooting of Love Aaj Kal Deepika barely exchanged anything beyond a hello with her co-star Saif in London and Delhi. Even with Neil Nitin Mukesh, whom she just shot with, Deepika was polite. But with Imran, Deepika is at her warmest, thanks to Avantika who has gone out of her way to make Deepika feel comfortable.”
“You’re taller than me,” was Deepika’s first reaction when they started shooting together. Imran Khan and his fiancé Avantika landed in Delhi a day before Deepika.
Says producer Kunal Kohli, “Deepika and Imran shot in and around Delhi’s streets from Wednesday. Everywhere they were greeted by mobs. Avantika has been a big support for Deepika…Though Imran and Deepika are friends they are fiercely competitive on screen.”
The pair need to have separate hair-colour schemes for the pre- and post- interval halves of the film.
Says Kunal Kohli, “Both Imran and Deepika showed up in Dehli looking younger and trendier. Their clothes are cooler than before. We’ve brought in completely new designers for Deepika and Imran.”
While Imran’s clothes have been done by the Delhi-based duo of designer Harmeet –Neha, Deepika’s designer is Ayesha, a former assistant to Anaita Shroff.
Informs Kunal. “We want Deepika and Imran to look so cool together that they become instant youth icons.”
The idea, in case anyone misses the point, is that Deepika hopes to form a long-lasting screen pair with Imran.
Says Deepika, “Well I do have two distinct looks in the first and second half of Break Ke Baad. Beyond that it’s too early to discuss anything.”
