Deepika Padukone's Tamil tinted Hindi dialogues in "Chennai Express" may not have gone down well with some critics but the actress denies that the film caricatures South India in any way

Deepika says she is a South Indian herself and would never spoof her own culture. In fact, it took her a while to master the Tamil-Hindi tone in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer movie. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film releases this Friday.

"I don't understand why people are jumping to conclusion without even seeing the film. We all are South Indians, Rohit is a South Indian and I think except for SRK most of the crew was from South.

"Why would we spoof our own culture? For years, our films have been based in Punjab but now few films have started setting their stories in South India. I think people are not yet used to it.


It is a comedy and larger-than-life film so dialogues are meant to be funny, " Deepika said during a promotional event of "Chennai Express". The film will see Deepika play a Tamil girl who falls in love with a North Indian despite the language barrier. The 27-year-old star said she could identify with her character of a headstrong but traditional girl.

"I could identify with my character. I think Indian girls are like that. They have a mind of their own but are close to their families. Even when we are travelling outside, we don't lose that quality and stand out in the crowd. We have a way of carrying ourselves with lot of dignity and respect. "

Fresh from the success of "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", the actress is looking forward to another hit in "Chennai Express" which will see her reunite with Shah Rukh Khan after "Om Shanti Om".

She is also working with directors Imtiaz Ali and Homi Adjania again and though she will not confirm, Deepika has reportedly signed Farah Khan's "Happy New Year" opposite SRK. Amid all the work there is little time for the actress to enjoy a break.

She recently cut short her holiday to sign a big project but Deepika says she is not complaining. "Every film has its own journey and sometimes you make right and sometimes wrong decisions. It is all part of the learning curve.


It has been a wonderful journey for me and I want to enjoy the experience. I am doing good and I have worked really hard to be where I am today, " Deepika said. Her reported link-up with "Ram Leela" Ranveer Singh has been a part of media gossip for sometime but Deepika says she has learnt to tackle the pitfalls of fame. "I don't Google my name.

I get too much information about myself anyway. I would want to keep my private life private but I understand where it comes from. People are curious to know such things. "