/> Globetrotting young entrepreneur Sidhartha Mallya has not broken ties with former girlfriend Deepika Padukone. Though they aren't seeing one another he continues to look out for her. In fact during this conversation he admits he has met her recently.

`Yes, I did bump into her recently. She is still a very close friend. I will always, repeat ALWAYS, be there for her. I congratulated her for Cocktail. I was so happy to her being so happy. `

Sid is on top of the world about Deepika's triumph in Cocktail. `I'm so happy the film has done so well. I haven't seen it. I was happy for the film doing well. But over and above that I was happy that her performance was unanimously singled out for praise. She deserves it.

She's a very very hard-working girl. I am so glad her good work is finally paying off. I will always wish her all the best. And anytime she needs me I will be there for her. `

But at the moment Sidhartha describes himself as `very single`.


`I haven't planned it that way. One can't plan such things. Until another relationship comes along I am single. I didn't plan to be in a relationship and I didn't plan to be single either. It just happened. `

Shockingly Sid who's seen in the company of some of our most beautiful actresses doesn't watch Hindi films. And he isn't abashed to admit it. `I can't remember the last Bollywood film I watched. I think it was Desi Boyz. That was a screening arranged by Deepika.

Besides that...I can't pretend to be enamoured by Bollywood movies, though I am being offered roles in Bollywood all the time. I got my first Bollywood offer when I was 17. If I wanted I could have been a Bollywood actor years ago. But sorry, I'll pass. I don't think I can do justice to Hindi cinema.

In my view the sensibilities of Hindi cinema are very different from mine. I don't think Hindi movie-going audiences would be able to connect with me. I think my career would've followed a different course if I had grown up in India. But because I grew up abroad and I was living in London, then I went to boarding school, it was a different world for me. `

However Sid Mallya is not averse to modelling. He walked the ramp in Delhi on Saturday night and loved the experience.

`Modelling is something that again I've been approached to do for many years. When this opportunity came to me I took it. I am glad I did. I had so much fun. If I get another chance I'd do it again. Why not? I don't believe in turning my back on anything. `


However filmmaking is not something Sid is putting aside. `I did a television series for my IPL team called No Boundaries. That was entirely my brainchild. A lot of people saw that and were impressed.

They also saw me on Simi Garewal's show. I was told I've a screen presence. Thereafter I got so many offers to take No Boundaries further. Television channels offered to let me host my own television show.

I haven't discounted a career on any medium. But I am not jumping into anything. Because if I wanted to rush I'd have beea Bollywood hero long back. I'll take a call soon. `

He is at the moment in the exploratory mode. Tell him he is going through the process of confusion and discovery, and the young Mallya scion protests, `I won't say I'm confused. In the position that I am I look around, travel and discover the things that interest me. I've time to find myself. I'm only 25. I am evaluating all my options and then I'd be choosing a direction. `

Call him the boy with the golden spoon and Sid doesn't flinch. `I want to be remembered for myself, and not just the family name. There are so many occasions in my life when the name 'Siddharth' is more important than 'Mallya'.

Dad has achieved wonders. But I am not interested in just being known as someone's son. I am very proud to be his son. But I don't want to be known as the boy with the golden spoon.

I want to be remembered for what I achieve on my own. I am very fortunate to be born a Mallya. But it does come with a lot of baggage. `


Sid says the slump in his father's airline business has nothing to do with him. `I've nothing to do with the airline. Just see what's happening. There's a genuine public outrage.

But you should see see the messages I get on twitter about the airline. Almost as though it's my fault!So while it's glamorous and seductive to be born where I am it also comes with its own disadvantages. `

Sid did look after the family's IPL team. `And that was a lot of work. Running a professional sports team is not a joke. At that time I was just 23. How many 23-year olds do such a thing? `

Tell him he has made himself unpopular on Twitter with his abrasive remarks and Sid retorts, `If you're alluding to what happened with my IPL player (Luke Pomersbach) what I said was misunderstood. I did what was correct.

I just stood up for Luke. As for Ayesha Takia, let me reiterate I didn't know who she was. I don't watch Bollywood films. I genuinely didn't know who she was. If that's a crime then I am guilty. I wasn't being mean. I wasn't trying to put her down. `


Then Sid reasons practically, ` I can't be that unpopular because 300,000 people follow me on Twitter. Maybe this has to do with my UK upbringing or my boarding school background. But I'm a huge believer in speaking the truth.

I've never been someone to mince words. I cannot stand people who just say things to please people. I believe in saying what I feel like saying. If that upsets some people, fine.

If people don't like what I've to say it is more their problem than mine. If people on Twitter don't like what I've to say then they shouldn't follow me. `

At the moment Sidhartha is back in India. `There are so many opportunites presenting themselves to me. And I want to look at all of them. `