Om
Shanti
Om,
Bachna
Ae
Haseeno,
Love
Aaj
Kal
-Pick
up
any
of
the
successful
films
that
Deepika
Padukone
has
been
a
part
of
and
it
is
quite
obvious
that
she
has
always
had
an
important
role
to
play
in
the
film's
narrative.
In
fact
even
in
a
box
office
disappointment
like
Chandni
Chowk
To
China
she
did
have
ample
screen
time
with
a
double
role
to
her
credit.
This
is
why
when
one
sees
her
in
a
couple
of
song
sequences
and
a
light
hearted
scene
or
two
in
Karthik
Calling
Karthik,
one
wonders
if
this
is
all
that
she
has
to
offer
in
the
film?
One
wonders
if
there
is
space
for
any
quintessential
romance
in
Karthik
Calling
Karthik.
Beyond
a
couple
of
love
songs
and
a
night
club
number,
Deepika
and
Farhan
can't
really
be
expected
to
romance
around
the
trees
in
the
film.
So
how
does
the
entire
romantic
angle
merge
with
the
narrative?
"Well,
at
the
end
of
the
day
this
film
is
a
thriller",
agrees
Deepika
who
is
stepping
into
this
genre
for
the
first
time,
"Having
said
that,
it
was
quite
a
lot
of
fun
and
challenge
for
me
to
be
a
part
of
it.
The
film
is
very
different
from
its
subject,
plot,
look
and
treatment
perspective.
I
am
glad
to
be
doing
something
of
this
kind
since
I
truly
believe
in
what
was
explained
to
me
abut
Karthik
Calling
Karthik
and
hence
chose
it."
One
also
tends
to
believe
that
working
in
this
film
must
have
been
akin
to
being
comfortable
in
a
home
ground
for
Deepika.
After
all
she
comes
from
similar
urban
sensibilities
and
by
the
look
of
things,
Karthik
Calling
Karthik
too
has
its
roots
in
being
an
urban
contemporary
tale.
"Well,
not
really",
Deepika
shakes
her
head
in
disagreement
here,
"The
minute
you
become
a
part
of
a
film,
you
transform
from
your
real
self
to
being
a
character.
This
is
where
you
potential
as
a
performer
come
in.
Shonali
is
very
different
person
from
what
I
am
in
real
life.
Hence,
there
was
a
definite
effort
involved
in
bringing
her
alive
on
screen.
It
wasn't
like
being
on
a
home
ground
for
sure."
From
an
actor
of
her
stature
who
has
been
gradually
rising
up
the
ladder,
Deepika
can't
be
expected
to
have
signed
a
film
for
the
lure
of
big
banner,
big
bucks
and
a
rising
star.
There
has
to
be
a
lot
more
than
that
and
perhaps
the
promos
are
not
showing
it
all
while
primarily
focusing
on
Farhan's
character
of
'Karthik'.
So
is
Deepika
the
'band
muththi'
a.k.a.
a
surprise
element
in
this
debut
directorial
venture
of
Vijay
Lalwani?
"Well,
keep
guessing",
Deepika
gives
that
mischievous
smile
here,
"It
is
a
thriller
after
all
and
I
can't
be
expected
to
reveal
anything
beyond
a
point.
Of
course
you
are
right
in
saying
that
my
roles
have
always
boasted
of
good
substance
in
them
and
Karthik
Calling
Karthik
is
going
to
be
no
different.
Beyond
that,
I
would
rather
be
mum
and
wait
for
you
to
watch
the
film
and
then
react."