After a season of success, Deepika Padukone gets back to doing what she enjoys best — movies and more movies. Between her countless assignments, she speaks her mind on work commitments,monetary matters and more.

That actress Deepika Padukone within a short span of seven years has slipped easily into the numero uno slot among actresses is impressive, but her journey is even more impressive for the fact that such an arc was unexpected. By her own admission, director Farah Khan who gave her her first Bollywood break in Om Shanti Om stands impressed by the progress she has made in these few years. "She feels very proud. I remember her saying in an interview that in the first film she had to take me by the hand and spoon-feed me; show me exactly what Farah wanted me to do and now I just understand what she says. And that feels nice," says Padukone.

Her rise has been swift but sure-footed. And pleasantly, on the back of some good films that tapped into her acting potential. That they have yielded magic numbers is an added advantage. When the leggy Padukone arrived on the scene, with a role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in his home production, no less, she automatically pole-vaulted into the A-league.

The success of the film guaranteed big projects, but industry watchers were uncertain of how long the golden run would last. While she scored high on stardom, her acting chops were yet untested. After a middling success with Bachna Ae Haseeno and a not-so-impressive Chandni Chowk To China, Padukone was still waiting in the wings to really strike out. The checkered score continued with hits and misses of different kinds but over the last year and half, Ms Padukone has impressed the industry and the audience alike with her new-found on-screen bravura. After Cocktail, Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and now Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram-leela, she has delivered the perfect serve.