Deepika Padukone

“I meditate. I breathe out what I can't control and focus on the positives.”

“To me, the mind and body are one. I'm very transparent, in a way, and people can very easily make out what mood I'm in.”

“Even though I played national level badminton, I told my parents when I was in 10th that I was not interested in continuing. Being a model or actor fascinated me from a young age, and I even did a couple of ads when I was just eight years old.”

“Maybe because I am from a sports background, I don't give up easily. I am a fighter.”

“I'm not into superhero movies, but I love cartoons. Tweety bird is my favourite.”

“I'll only move in with my husband. There's no question of a live-in relationship.”

“Being a movie star isn't easy. It requires a lot of commitment and sacrifice. Your career goes through extreme ups and downs. You are judged all the time. Great things are written about you, but at the same time, not-so-good things are also said. At times, things are said about you that are completely untrue, and people mostly try to pull you down.”

“Everybody doesn't get to do each and every film. I don't compete with others; I compete with myself. I have been an athlete, a sportsperson; so I know how to be competitive in a healthy way.”

“There is a strong side to me, that is of a homemaker. I look forward to spending time at home in the evenings, cooking a meal, chatting with my parents and inviting friends over.”

“No other aspect of filmmaking has tempted me to do a film other than the script and the story itself.”

“I am a big foodie, so much so that I eat in every half an hour. This is the secret of my glowing skin.”

“I am not very comfortable about dancing at weddings and New Year parties. Maybe it's because of the way I have been brought up; I wouldn't want my family to feel that cringe moment. Dance is an art for me.”

“I need to be loved. I need to be nurtured. I also need peace and stability in my relationships. I can't be in volatile relationships.”

“My parents have been very supportive, in fact, it was my mother who identified that what I was going through was actually depression. My family and friends never let me feel as if something was wrong with me. They made me feel that what I was going through was okay. They supported my decision to take medication for depression.”

“I was in Mauritius, shooting for 'Break Ke Baad,' and I went for skydiving. It was a life-changing experience. Travelling, dancing, and reading are my other pastimes.”

“It's good to be slightly ambitious, but I believe one shouldn't be too calculative. It's good to be on the edge, but I have never followed my mind. I have always followed my heart. And it has yielded the right results.”

“While I believe that when you are in the glamour industry, you have to look your best, I also believe being skinny is not 'hot and happening.'”

“I wish to be appreciated not only as a film star but also for the person I am. If I manage to bring a smile on people's faces, then I think I'll be successful.”

“I've not really watched too many English films. I've grown up watching Indian cinema, mostly.”

“I don't think you need any kind of backing here in the industry. I think what you achieve in your life is the result of your own talent and hard work.”