"It was fantastic working with Saif" - Deepika Padukone

We caught up with Deepika Padukone at the Idea Filmfare Awards 2009 unveiling event at a Mumbai star hotel. The beautiful actress was missing boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor at the event. When asked about Ranbir's absence from the event she replied, "You'll have to ask the organizers that"

Talking about her recent debacle Chandni Chowk To China, Deepika stated, "I would still count it as a great experience. If you work hard on a film or anything and then it doesn't do well, you are obviously disappointed but it was a great experience for me. I learnt a lot from it. It's an experience that pushes me to better myself and my performances."

Speaking about her Imtiaz Ali film, Love Aaj Kal with Saif Ali Khan, she said, "Imtiaz Ali was always on my wish-list of directors to work with and I am glad I am working with him so soon in my career. It was fantastic working with Saif. He is brilliant yet he needs to be taken care of like a child. My character in the film, Meera, is a modern yet traditional girl. She is practical yet emotional in matters of the heart. I think youngsters will relate very well to the love story in the film."

Deepika has also made a small appearance with her debut film hero Shahrukh Khan in coming Friday's release, Billu Barber. Recalling his shooting experience for the same, the tall beauty said, "I shot for three days for Billu Barber shooting the song Love Mera Hit Hit. It actually brought back memories of Om Shanti Om for me. In fact even the caterer, Muthuswamy was the same. Farah and SRK are like family to me and I would do anything for them."

Finally when we asked her plans for Valentine's Day? she cleverly replied, "I am spending the day with my parents."