MID-DAY (September 9, 2016)

"Main aap sabhi ko bahut pyar karta hoon (I love you all a lot),” said Vin Diesel, repeating after his XXX: The Return of Xander Cage co-star Deepika Padukone as she gave him his first Hindi lesson via Facebook Live yesterday. The two got on to broadcast a rather cutesy “post-work dinner” live-feed on social media Thursday afternoon (India time) as Deepika returned to join the crew of her first Hollywood production.

“I can’t tell you how happy i am that she is in the movie and has brought her magic,” said Vin, promptly receiving a peck on the cheek from Deepika, in return for the compliment. “I know all of you in India know who Deepika is, but the world will get to know who she is after the release of XXX,” Vin said, giddily grinning throughout the broadcast, just like Deepika. Sounded like a winwin situation to us!

Deepika Padukone about the best part of working on her Hollywood debut
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; July 1, 2016)


You make your Hollywood debut soon with XXX: The Return of Xander Cage...
It kind of fell in place like anything else in my life. I think sometimes, certain things happen when they are supposed to. It’s definitely not something that I chased, rather it just fell into my lap. I was made an offer, I read the script, I loved the part and most importantly, I thought it would be a fun experience. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, it’s a Hollywood film, so I should do something differently’.

With you and Priyanka Chopra getting full-fledged parts in a Hollywood film, don’t you think it will open a bigger window for other Indian actors as well?
I hope so. I have been offered roles in Hollywood films in the past as well. But I don’t think I was ready then. Over here, you have to look at everything you get as an opportunity. There is no role so small or too big. It’s what you make of a role or of that chance which defines it. Sometimes, even the smallest part teaches you a lot and can be an amazing experience. I do feel lucky that I got the opportunity with xXx. It’s not about the size of the role, but the opportunity.

Anything you did in the West, which you miss doing here?
The one thing I enjoyed doing the most while I was away, was doing my laundry myself. (Laughs) And I’m serious about it. There’s a lot more structure in their timings, which allows you your weekends. I was very happy. I would go grocery shopping, I would cook and I would do my own laundry. I love doing all that myself.

Did you find any similarities between the two industries?
Actually, a lot! I want to take this opportunity to say that I didn’t find anything glaringly different. This speaks volumes about the strength of the Indian film industry today. I think we’ve constantly evolved over the years. We have the independent producer system and then, in the last couple of years, we had big studios coming in. Then there’s the kind of movies we’re making or the content in our films or the different types of female-centric subjects we are touching. The fact that after doing three different Hindi films in the same year, I went there to shoot or a Hollywood film for four months and other than the team being different, I felt exactly the same, says a lot about where we stand today as a nation and the kind of things we are making. It’s truly, truly global.

Did you stay in a rented apartment there in Toronto?
I did rent an apartment. (Laughs) I feel it’s always nicer to do that when you stay away for so long. You want to come back, and have a certain space which is your own. Sometimes, you just want to cook something or wash your clothes. I took my candles with me, my photo-frames, all my sambhar and rasam powders, all other masalas with me.

What did you cook the most?
I cooked all the South Indian food that I could because there were a lot of Indian restaurants, so North Indian food wasn’t a problem to get there. But I couldn’t find South Indian food easily. So every time, someone came to visit me, I asked them carry food for me.

This is possibly the first year in recent times that you won’t have any B-Town release. Given you are at the peak, do you feel bad?
Ya, but this is the way I look at it. For me, xXx is not different from any other movie I have done. Other than the fact it was shot abroad. In every other way, it’s exactly like an Indian movie. And it’s okay. I have always made my choices based on content and instinct. I will do something which I think is right for me and my career. I didn’t come across something that is exciting enough. Having said that, I have signed my next movie and start filming in September.

Are you looking at other Hollywood films as well?
I don’t look at it as Hollywood or Bollywood. If I find some role challenging or exciting in the West, I will take it up, for sure.

Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; June 7, 2016)

Last week, Deepika Padukone returned to the city after wrapping up the shoot of XXX: The Return Of Xander Cage with Vin Diesel. Now, we have stumbled upon some exciting details about the actress’ maiden Hollywood project — she will share screen space with Brazil and Barcelona star footballer Neymar Jr, who features in a cameo.

Neymar, who has chosen to represent Brazil in the upcoming Olympics while skipping Copa America (South Amercan football championship), is apparently in the States for some commitments. “Neymar is considered one of the best strikers in world football at the moment and has decided to have a go at acting. He shot for a small but key role. The entire unit was excited about having him on the sets. The footballer has some important scenes with Diesel and other actors in the film,” says a source.

The film is currently in the post production stage and is slated to hit screens in January 2017. The first trailer will be out on July 22.

When we checked Diesel’s social media account, we saw a sexy snap of his with Deepika on Instagram apart from a confirmation about Neymar being part of the XXX film, a franchise which has been revived after 12 years. He shared a pic of the footballer, captioning it, “So proud to announce that @neymarjr has filmed his first day on XxX. He is a natural!!! (sic).”

The Brazilian star also teased about his shooting location on Instagram with a post that read: “Very excited to be on the set of #XXX3 today, but if I told you what I was doing here @vindiesel might have to kill me (sic).”

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 7, 2016)

Deepika Padukone who has been kicking up quite a storm as she shoots for her Hollywood debut, the Vin Diesel and Samuel Jackson-starrer xXx: Return of Xander Cage, is taking her action turn a notch higher.

Mirror has learnt that the 30-year-old actress, currently filming in Toronto, will use a real gun for a crucial sequence in the climax and has been training under the aegis of a professional to make the weapon-wielding look convincing in reel life.

"Besides the operational techniques, Deepika also wanted to get her posture right. She has been training with a military officer, Mike, for the past six weeks," reveals a source close to the Bajirao Mastani actress who has been in Canada for the shooting schedule since February. She briefly touched down in Mumbai in March, before flying off to Sri Lanka to attend her best friend's wedding, along with steady beau, Ranveer Singh.

Dippy who plays a huntress named Serena in the xXx sequel, which is scheduled to release next year, is having a blast with her costars, including Orange is the New Black actress Ruby Rose, and with all the gun-toting. "She practices for a couple of hours every day," adds the source. The actress has been documenting her way through the shoot on the social media with snapshots from her training sessions and various preps. "Getting into action mode!" she calls it.

Coincidentally, she had whipped out a bandook for the climax of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, also featuring Ranveer Singh, but this time she will be seen in a completely different avatar.

For her role across the seven seas, Deepika started sweating it out in the gym with trainer Yasmin Karachiwala even before taking off for Canada, and has continued with the specially designed workouts with fitness instructor Farhan Dhalla.

Her parents, Prakash and Ujjala Padukone, who recently joined her abroad, were also spotted working out with the trainer. "Six am in Toronto and Deepika and I are at the gym, training. This is how we do it," Farhan had posted.

MUMBAI MIRROR (April 8, 2016)

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2016)

Deepika Padukone who has been since February filming with Vin Diesel for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, recently posted a picture of chaklis and chips with the caption #Missinghome, making it evident that she was homesick. Perhaps that's why en route to Sri Lanka she has made a quick stopover in Mumbai. She landed at the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport early this morning, will spend a few hours in the city before air-dashing to the Island country for a day to attend her best friend's wedding.

After the release of Bajirao Mastani last December, the actress had taken off for a short vacation to Udaipur with her girl gang for the bachelorette party of her school friend. While in Udaipur, Deepika visited the Jain Temple in Ranakpur and in Jaipur happily played the tourist.

"She will be in Sri Lanka for only a day before flying back to Los Angeles on Saturday. It's a hectic, less than 48-hours trip but no way was she going to miss out on this wedding," says a source close to the actress.

Deepika flagged off her Hollywood debut in Toronto before travelling with it to the City of Angels. Reportedly, the 30-year-old-actress who has been doing a lot of action on the sets will be away for another month before returning to the bay in April. More chaklis please!

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 14, 2016)

DNA (March 13, 2016)


Hollywood has not been too kind to our desi girls in the past!
Though we get to see films like the Avengers even before it releases abroad, when it comes to promoting Indian talent, the Western studios have been somewhat scroogy. Aishwarya Rai was a part of a couple of Hollywood flicks, but none helped in making a huge career for her there. Pink Panther 2 was critically drubbed, despite being a moderate success, killing the franchise there and then, while her film with Colin Firth, The Last Legion, was released straight on DVD. Mallika Sherawat, despite her boisterous claims, also barely lasted there with her movie Hisss tanking big time!

The previous xXx films didn’t exactly promote their heroine’s talents
In the first xXx, Asia Argento was Vin’s heroine, and she didn’t make it huge in Hollywood, despite having a following being a Scream Queen in her dad’s horror films. All she has to do is look hot and be a damsel in distress. Nevertheless, she has the credit of being the sole heroine in the flick!

Deepika has to compete with three other hotties
Besides Deepika, the makers have roped in Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries) and Ruby Rose (Orange Is The New Black) also in the cast. Both the actresses have their loyal set of fan following. The latest is they have signed former Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, to play Vin’s love interest! Deepika has to compete with all these girls.

Deepika hasn’t signed any Bollywood films yet
Deepika hasn’t signed any other Bollywood flicks, and not a single film of hers in releasing this year. xXx itself will release next, and God forbid, if the film bombs and she goes unnoticed, it will be a huge waste of time and potential for the actress!

xXx is no Fast and Furious
While the first xXx was a hit, the second was a huge disaster. Though Vin Diesel was not a part of the film, the damage was done. Now he is trying to revive the dead franchise through his box office appeal, which he got thanks to the Fast And The Furious franchise. However, an important fact to notice is that most of his films outside F&F franchise have not been huge hits, including the Riddick trilogy.

Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 3, 2016)

Three of Bollywood's A-list desi girls are currently on foreign shores filming for their respective projects.

Priyanka Chopra who was spotted on the Baywatch sets in a risque white dress, paired with heels that could give skyscrapers a run for their money, had jetted off to the sunny sides of Miami straight after the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, to begin filming. The actress plays the antagonist, Victoria Leeds, in the film which also features Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and High School Musical star Zac Effron.

Meanwhile, her Bajirao Mastani love-rival, Deepika Padukone, who is shooting for her own debut, the Vin-Diesel-starrer XXX: Return of Xander Cage, in Toronto, is busy blowing her director DJ Caruso's mind with her seamless performances. And the former co-stars have been supportive of each other, much to the dismay of gossip-mongers.

Priyanka, who became the first Indian to headline an American TV show, as FBI agent Alex Parish in the American series Quantico, received a compliment from Dippy's XXX co-star, Ruby Rose, who joked about confusing PeeCee's show with a shampoo ad (since Indians have great hair). "I thought the Quantico ad was a Pantene ad. But then I thought it was weird with the guns and all," Rose tweeted.

Priyanka responded warmly: "Awww thank you Ruby Rose. Great hair comes naturally to Indian girls. Sure Deepika will concur. Good luckwith 'xXx...'."

Deepika play's Vin's love interest, the femme fatal Serena, in XXX.

The director recently shared a picture of Dippy dressed in a Dominatrix-like costume as she kicked up a storm on the sets with a stuntman. "Deepika makes my job easy," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Katrina Kaif, along with Sidharth Malhotra, wrapped up the last schedule of Nitya Menon's upcoming time travel adventure, Baar Baar Dekho, in Thailand with Sid marking the momentous day with a picture. "Thank you lala land," he exclaimed.

We can't really tell if their offshore stints have made the lovely lasses homesick yet but they're being sorely missed on home ground.

BOMBAY TIMES (February 15, 2016)

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The star couple brought in Valentine's Day a day early and spent some quality time shopping and sightseeing in Toronto
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 15, 2016)

Ranveer Singh spawned a fresh batch of `boyfriend goals' memes when he flew off to Toronto to enjoy a four-day-break with his ladylove, Deepika Padukone, who is filming her Hollywood debut, XXX: Return of the Xander Cage, there. They brought in Valentine's Day a day earlier on February 13.

While Dippy's XXX co-star Vin Diesel was not on the sets, the actress and her beau hung out with filmmaker DJ Caruso, who tweeted, “Ranveer and a very happy Deepika. Great spirit and smile... Cool dude.“ The actor pointed out a Mumbai cab with XXX emblazoned on it to Caruso, telling him about the XXX fever in India.

On Saturday, Ranveer and Dippy took off to the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, where they shopped at an upscale American clothing store. This was followed by a full-day guided tour of the city. When the star-struck guide wanted a memento with Deepika, Ranveer turned photographer. The actor returns to Mumbai today.“Deepika and he will be filming in different continents now so they made sure they got this quality time together,“ informs a source.

The couple have been pretty vocal about their relationship of late, with Ranveer recently travelling to Bangalore to spend time with his girlfriend's parents, Prakash and Ujjala, and sister, Anisha. The Padukones and Bhavnanis (Ranveer's parents) were also spotted sitting together at the Filmfare Awards in January. They took off on a secret rendezvous to bring in Deepika's 30th birthday and there have been multiple sightings of the twosome dining across town, from a popular celeb joint in Bandra to the Chinese restaurant of a SoBo five star, in the last month.

On Saturday, the social media was lauding Ranveer Singh as the perfect mate, asking Cupid-struck dudes to take cues from him on how to be a smitten boyfriend.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 12, 2016)

Actress shares pictures from the sets of her Hollywood film
MUMBAI MIRROR (February 11, 2016)

Deepika Padukone seems to be making the most of her time on the sets of her Hollywood debut, the Vin Diesel-starrer XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, being filmed in Toronto. After teasing her Indian fans with snapshots of her and the action star, the actress was seen posing for pictures with another XXX co-star, the Thai actor and martial artist Tony Jaa.

The 30-year-old actress put her best pout forward as she cuddled up with him for the camera on Wednesday. She had earlier shared a photo of her with the film's director D J Caruso from her first day shoot.

Written by F Scott Frazier, XXX follows Diesel's famous character, Xander Cage, who returns to the National Security Agency after an eight-year absence. A release date is yet to be fixed.

DNA (February 10, 2016)

Deepika Padukone, who is currently stationed in the US shooting for Xander Cage with Vin Diesel, will have some passionate scenes with her co-star. When director DJ Caruso was asked by a fan on social media if Vin and Dips will get steamy in the film, the director had replied in the affirmative. Given that liplocks and lovemaking scenes are not a big deal in Hollywood movies as they are here — (PC’s Quantico began with a make-out session in the car) — we can’t wait to see what Dippy does on this one. The director earlier commented on his lead pair’s chemistry. Too much excitement.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 26, 2016)


Deepika Padukone has been sweating it out in the gym for her Hollywood debut, Vin Diesel-starrer XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, with celebrity fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala on a new workout plan which kicked off in the first week of January.

"She leaves for the shoot on February 2 and most of her portions will be filmed in Toronto and Los Angeles," reveals Yasmin who has one week left to prep up the actress who is currently in Bangalore spending some time with her parents and sister before she goes for two months.

Yasmin wishes she had three months to work on the actress who had earlier been doing a lot of pilates and functional training. "Deepika needs to look tough like someone who is always ready for a fight and needs to gain more muscle. Our new workout plan involves a lot of functional strength training, starting with basic weight training," she says.

Deepika has been training daily for an hour and will amp it up with more intense workouts upon her return. "She has already been pulling off 200 pounds for leg press, but there will be a lot more heavy weight training now, besides bosu (exercise routines involving a ball) and TRX suspension training," says Yasmin who is all praise for Deepika's passion. "She is an athlete and enjoys the workout."

Unlike her workout regime, Dippy's diet plan has undergone minimal changes. She eats every two hours and her diet comprises of the right amount of carbs, protein and fibre. "We have only upped the protein portions a bit," says Yasmin who is scouting for a trainer for the actress in Toronto and has recommended strength training with machines for the outdoor shoot.

Meanwhile, Dippy's leading man Vin who's been training diligently on skateboards for his part, is looking forward to start filming. The 48-year-old Hollywood hitmaker shared a picture of a bruised arm on the social media saying,"Night training can be a little... Haha. Welcome to the Xander Z."

Deepika Padukone is nervous about her Hollywood debut; is reading Elizabeth Taylor's biography.
MUMBAI MIRROR (January 21, 2016)

Deepika Padukone, who will be making her Hollywood debut this year alongside Vin Diesel in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, admitted that though excited, she is nervous about venturing into new waters. "But most importantly I feel proud to be a part of a film where I get to flaunt my ethnicity. The reason they are roping me is because of my background. I really hope that I do well in the movie and people go and watch it," she asserts. Directed by DJ Caruso, the action thriller is the third instalment in the triple X-franchise. It also features Samuel L Jackson, Ruby Rose, Nina Dobrev and Jet Li.

Deepika, who recently bagged the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Piku and was also praised for her performance as Mastani in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance, says that she competes only with herself and keeps setting new benchmark so she can better her performance. "After a successful 2014, I had hoped to do better and that's what happened in 2015. It is my constant desire to keep improving," she adds.

The 29 year old is catching up on her reading and trying her hand at baking. "I haven't got a weekend for the past three years and when I do, I like to catch up on sleep. But I also love baking and reading. At the moment I'm reading Elizabeth Taylor's biography," she smiles.