The latest buzz in the industry has it that Deepika Padukone has opted out of Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heer and Ranjha to be directed by Sabbir Khan.

Heer and Ranjha had hit the headlines recently and mainstream newspapers had reported that Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone had been roped in to play the lead. It was also for the first time that the two actors were paired together. In fact there were also talks that the contemporary version of Heer and Ranjha would have Deepika sport a very modern look as Heer and that the characters were set in the current era.

Our source said, “Deepika is not going to be a part of the film anymore.” When contacted Deepika’s spokesperson maintained, “We were not approached for it so where is the question of opting out.” What seems strange is how come Deepika never confirmed or denied the news when it was announced earlier.

The junior crew members of the Love Aaj Kal team had a pleasant experience shooting with the leading lady Deepika Padukone. One of the crew members says that they grew fond of Deepika while shooting with her and on the other hand she also became friendly with them.

They would often be a part of some prank and gossip on the walkie-talkie. A unit source revealed, "Deepika would borrow the walkie from one of the assistant directors and pass comments, amusing and communicating to a select few who would know and leave the rest baffled as to who the mysterious voice was.

The crew members in the beginning were unaware that it was Deepika and gossiped with her openly. Someone suddenly realized that she was playing a prank with them and soon the whole unit realized that Deepika was the mysterious person.

But Deepika sincerely enjoyed the banter and took all the gossip very sportingly."

Actress Deepika Padukone has admitted that she feels more mature than most 23-year-olds, but would not want to be thought of as old before her time.

The Chandni Chowk to China actress revealed in an interview with The Times of India that she often ends up giving out advice to her badminton star sister Saina as a result of her maturity.

She said: "I like the fact that I’m a little more mature than the average 23-year-old. As long as I don’t sound like a 50-year-old, it’s fine. My only advice to Saina is not to lose her head over endorsements, film offers and all the media attention."She should remember that all that’s coming to her because of what she is, and she is, first and foremost, a good badminton player."Padukone comes from a family of badminton players, with her dad also being heavily involved in the sport.

Deepika Padukone became the first Indian face to be on the cover of Latin America’s Deepika, an actress and a supermodel too went last month to Lima Peru for a photo shoot for ‘Vogue’ and Cosas Magazine. The ‘Om Shanti Om’ actress stayed at the presidential suite at the Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima during her vsit. Bill Clinton, Duran Duran and Tommy Hilfiger are the previous occupants of the suite.

Deepika Padukone said that the presidential palace that I visited is to date one of the most stunning pieces of architecture I have come across, its beauty is indescribable. The warmth that the people of Peru gave me is something that I will always hold close to my heart.

The actress cum supermodel added, “If you get this much respect as a stranger, I can imagine the care you get when you are their loved one.

“Be it the Minister of Tourism whom I met at the Peru fashion show or a shopkeeper in the local market, everyone greeted me with so much of affectation that it fills me with gratitude even now”.

Previously, Deepika had walked on the ramp with international model Naomi Campbell at the Lakme Fashion week 2009 in Mumbai and also attended the Fashion Week Peruvian Moda as the guest of honor.

It was a great day really, when Bollywood stars walked down the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week.Tusshar Kapoor & Genelia D’Souza walked the ramp for ace designer Manish Malhotra. Also on the ramp were Naomi Campbell, Deepika Padukone, Arjun, Kunal, Farhan Akhtar and Malaika Arora.

Spotted amongst the audience were Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Riteish Deshmukh, Anushka Sharma, Narendra Kumar, Asin, Sophie Chaudhary, Sri Devi and Preity Zinta.

The fashion-for-cause event will combine India’s best models, Bollywood stars, national level athletes, socialites and business leaders.

And the outfits will be auctioned to raise funds for the victims of 26/11. Where a number of Bollywood biggies were present at the show, many of them sizzled the ramp with their walk.

Sports and Deepika Padukone are inextricably linked. what with her father being a badminton champ.And now Deepika has gotten together with her father Prakash Paudokne in a project to help needy sports people.

Says Deepika, “My father has just started an organization to help promising individual sports persons. I’ve decided to be associated with it. I want to contribute not just financially but also by being there for it physically.I’m dying to do a sports film. But no one has offered me any so far.”

Deepika moves away from her Lucy Lieu act in Chandni Chowk To China to do a very ‘today’ film about a contemporary relationship in Imtiaz Ali’s film with Saif Ali Khan.And the extremely contemporary film often found Deepika drawing references from her own relationship.