Deepika Padukone

BANGALORE: Now that Farah Khan's "Om Shanti Om" has been declared as a hit, Bangalore's Deepika Padukone is the new rage of the Bollywood. Long-limbed and fresh-faced Deepika's bubbly presence is another big reason for the film's success apart from Shahrukh Khan's charisma. More than anyone else, the person who is over the moon over Deepika's success is her father Prakash Padukone, the badminton legend.

For the past few days, the trainees of the Tata Padukone Badminton Academy have been watching the film, courtesy Deepika Padukone.

In a chat with The Hindu, Mr. Padukone gave full credit to his daughter.

"It was a good show and she worked for her success. I am proud that she has made an impact," he said.

What pleases him is the fact that Deepika was not a whit overawed by Shahrukh Khan or for that matter anyone else.

"She has always been level-headed and knows what she is doing," said Mr. Padukone.

If Deepika did not choose to be model or Bollywood star, she would have become the most glamorous badminton star in the country. She had played a few State-ranking tournaments as a sub-junior with moderate success. But badminton's loss was Bollywood's gain.

Mr. Padukone wants Deepika to choose her roles with care and pick the right ones.

"What I would love to see is that she plays some good roles, not just glamorous stuff," he said.

Will she act as badminton star now that films such as "Chak De" are a big success?

Mr. Padukone is excited by the thought. "Why not? That would be a good idea. She could enact my own story, how as a youngster I struggled to make it to the top, eating, sleeping and playing just badminton and struggling to go on tours and living always in suspense, whether I would board the flight or not. Yes, I think there is enough masala in it," he said.

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan refused to accept the charges levelled against him for defying an Anti-Smoking Act during the recent Twenty20 cricket match in Mumbai.

National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication, an anti-smoking group, had issued legal notice against Khan for allegedly lighting up in public in violation of India's anti-smoking law. "This is not how a superstar should behave... Adored by millions (he) shouldn't lend a helping hand to promote smoking," the group's general secretary Shekhar Salkar said.

The truth, however, is that Bollywood has precisely three actors who can sell a film on their name - Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan.

"Statistics have proved that others like Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham have to be sold in clever packages," says a trade analyst.

Of course, if the film itself is appreciated ¬like a 'Lage Raho Munnabhai', 'Malamaal Weekly', 'Gangster'; 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' or 'Corporate', all of whom made it to the 2006 hit list - the stars don't matter.