Celebrity
‘My safe option for humour’: Imtiaz Ali clarifies ‘good girl image’ remark on Deepika Padukone
Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has issued a clarification to Deepika Padukone after anticipating that his remarks about the actor in a recent interview could be misconstrued.
In an interview with News18, Imtiaz recalled casting Deepika in the 2012 hit Cocktail, which also starred Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty.
During the conversation, Imtiaz said he chose Deepika for the role of Veronica because he had seen a “crazy and wild” side of her that contrasted with her public image at the time.
“Veronica is so different from what Deepika’s image was at that point in time. But since I had been in the room and attended parties with her, I know how crazy and wild she can be, and she was otherwise projecting a very ‘good girl’ image at that time.
“Now people have seen through the facade. So I thought it would be quite a new thing for Deepika to do. I knew that this emotional ground exists, so that was exciting,” he said.
Imtiaz Ali exposed Deepika Padukone's fake good girl image that she was trying to project earlier. The way he said "now people have seen through the facade", he really hates her What is Deepika doing that all that the people she works with end up hating her? pic.twitter.com/BY0YFHyZFI
— a (@iahaanx) May 23, 2026
Imtiaz issues clarification
Imtiaz later publicly clarified his remarks after several social media users interpreted them as a swipe at Deepika, with some online commentators calling the actor “hypocritical”.
Sharing the interview clip on his Instagram Story, the filmmaker wrote: “My dearest and loveliest @deepikapadukone, you are my pal, my buddy, my safe option for humour. I think you will never misunderstand my wannabe fun remarks because you more than anyone else know how much I love you, admire you, understand you, appreciate you.
“But I have been told you might misunderstand and be hurt, so I am telling you please don't. To be mean to you is janam mein to possible nahin hai.”
“I never thought I would write such a disclaimer to you, but it's been a while and I didn't want to take a chance. Wish you the best and love always,” he added.
Photo: Screen-grab/Imtiaz Ali InstagramAbout Cocktail
Cocktail is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Homi Adajania and produced by Dinesh Vijan alongside Saif Ali Khan under the banners of Maddock Films and Eros International.
Imtiaz Ali was closely associated with the film as its writer and creative contributor.
Set largely in London, the film revolves around two very different women — Veronica, a carefree and modern party girl, and Meera, a traditional and emotionally grounded woman — whose friendship gets complicated after both fall for the same man, Gautam.
Deepika Padukone’s performance as Veronica was widely praised and is often regarded as a turning point in her career.
Their association began with Love Aaj Kal, which established Deepika as a leading romantic star, and continued with Cocktail, where Imtiaz contributed as writer and creative force behind Veronica’s character — a role widely seen as a breakthrough in Deepika’s career.
The duo later reunited for Tamasha, which gained cult popularity for its emotionally layered storytelling and Deepika’s chemistry with co-star Ranbir Kapoor.
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