Deepika: I've never had to do a film as a favour

Deepika: I've never had to do a film as a favour

The first thing that you notice about Deepika Padukone, besides her ravishing good looks, is the sheer spontaneity with which she answers questions.  

At a suburban Mumbai mall to launch a luxury soap that she also endorses, Padukone is in a chirpy mood.

She tells Ankur Pathak why a brand is much more than big money for her and why having a boyfriend is not her top priority right now.

While signing on for advertising brands, is money the main and perhaps the only driving force?

A lot of people would like to believe that, but that's not very true.

Being a brand ambassador is a huge responsibility as I am the voice of the brand and I stand for what the brand represents. That implies that the monetary value doesn't influence me at all while choosing to be the face of a particular brand.

I feel very proud of being associated with my products because I strongly believe that they look for somebody that best reflects their brand's personality and if they find that in me, it is an honour.

That is how I connect and identify with all the products that I endorse. Also, seeing them grow and enter innovative markets is something that gives me great satisfaction.

Image: Deepika Padukone in a Tissot ad