/> We've heard of actors giving a limb for a role. But an eye? That's precisely what would have happened if she had tried to look any more Chinese for Chandni Chowk To China.

"I don't know how or why Nikhil Advani though of a South Indian with big round eyes to play Chinese. But he did cast me. I play a half-Chinese and half-Indian.. And to get my eyes to look less big and rounded and more slanted some special makeup artistes were brought in. They suggested tapes to stick around my eyes."

Deepika then consulted her doctors. "And they cut the idea down in time. My doctors said if I stick those tapes on my eyes for twelve hours a day the shape of my face would change forever and I'd end up looking Chinese for the rest of my life. So instead we got my makeup artiste Mallika Bhatt to do my eye makeup in such a way that my eyes looked slanted."

Deepika plays her second double role in Chandni Chowk... after Om Shanti Om. "Yes my second in a year. Two of out my three roles so far are double roles. It just gives me that much more confidence as an actor to know that directors think I can carry off a completely Indian and a Chinese look."

So why did she do one-third of a film between two double roles? For love?

"You mean did I do Bachna Ae Haseenon for Ranbir? Certainly not! I wasn't even seeing him when I signed the film. And I'm definitely mature enough to keep my professional and personal life apart...

No one can take advantage of me emotionally and professionally. If I wanted to work with Ranbir I'd be doing half a dozen films with him. We keep away from each others' work space and connect whenever we both have the time.

But we've worked in only one film and we're in the process of signing another. I've liked the script. But other details need to be worked out."

Ever since Deepika Padukone did her second film with two other female leads she has had people asking her why she agreed to do it.

"A lot of people feel it was a mistake for me to do a film with two other heroines when I had done a solo-heroine film with Shah Rukh Khan at the start of my career. But I was very clear that I wanted to do it the minute I heard my part. And I'm glad I did it."

From now on however, it's solo-heroine projects for Deepika. "I'm looking primarily at solo- heroine films unless I'm as excited about a multi-heroine project as I was about Bachna...."

Did she like herself in Bachna? "OSO was a challenge because I had to play someone from the 1970s. Bachna... I had to play today's character. For me the exciting part is when people say I was good in Bachna... in spite of having so little to do.When established actors tell me that I look good and can act I feel happy."

Deepika believes she's not in the industry to make friends. In fact Saif Ali Khan who shot Imtiaz Ali's film with her in London says she's professional and aloof.

"I'm more happy doing my shots and keeping to myself. Specially when I am shooting so far away from home I'd rather be on my own. Shooting this film was special because Imtiaz Ali is not a director who directs from the monitor.

He actually stands on the sets and gives instruction.He okays a take there and then. I'd be unsure of a shot but he'd okay it immediately. That's a change. Like in Bachna Ae Haseenon, I play very contemporary character in Imtiaz's film. It's avery today character."

Deepika rubbishes rumours of Rishi Kapoor calling her 'Bahurani'.

"I don't know where such things come from. I worked with him in London for Imtiaz'a film and we were thorough professionals. He was as warm towards me as he was with the rest of the crew.

I don't have too many scenes with him. But yes we interacted for a longer time in London than we ever did in Mumbai. He's a very caring person. He made sure everyone had khana on time.

When he arrives and leaves the set he greets everyone with equal warmth. We were working 12 hours a day. However my time after after work is mine."

Deepika now shoots for Imtiaz in Delhi, and then the film is over.

"I'm only 22. And I'm very happy with the work that I'm doing, " is her parting shot.