MUMBAI: Deepika Padukone got a dream debut in Bollywood when she starred opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan’s 2007 sophomore film ‘Om Shanti Om’. From there, there are has been no looking back for this young actress.

The actress still has to work with big names like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, but that hasn’t kept her from rising to the top. Be it Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ or ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ or Saif Ali Khan in ‘Love Aaj Kal’ or ‘Cocktail’, she’s shone each time.

It’s not been an easy ride though. She’s had flops along the way in the form of ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’, ‘Aarakshan’ and ‘Desi Boyz’. But she’s always bounced back, and that’s what has kept her in the race to her newfound position as a star.

Shah Rukh Khan in her first film, and in her upcoming film ‘Chennai Express’ too marks the end of a cycle. It may be the start of a new innings in Bollywood. The actress has director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Ram Leela’ up for release next. Four big films in a year back-to-back with ‘Race 2’, ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, ‘Chennai Express’ and ‘Ram Leela’ with big directors and huge co-stars; surely Deepika has hit a jackpot!

That’s not all! In January, she starts shooting for Imtiaz Ali’s next film opposite Ranbir Kapoor. She also stars in her ‘Cocktail’ director Homi Adajania’s next film ‘Finding Fanny Fernandes’ with Arjun Kapoor.

Deepika Padukone has also bagged another film opposite Shah Rukh Khan – Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’. This girl has no plans of slowing down. Let’s hope for the best. This is Deepika Padukone’s Bollywood story.