9 Years of Cocktail: Where it all began for Deepika Padukone… again!

Deepika Padukone Picture Courtesy: AFP

Farah Khan's ‘Om Shanti Om' was the biggest blockbuster of 2007, which launched the career of Deepika Padukone. She was an overnight star and sensation, and her introduction scene in the film on the red carpet of her film premiere may have played out in real after the success of this reincarnation drama.

Barring Imtiaz Ali's ‘Love Aaj Kal' in 2009, where we saw the potential as a performer, Padukone was barely acknowledged for her work despite attempting genres like thriller (Kartik Calling Kartik) comedy (Housefull), and period drama (Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey). Commercial and critical validation continued to elude an actor who had it all right in her first movie. What was possibly missing?

The question was answered in 2012's ‘Cocktail' where she played the role of Veronica, a stunning woman with a no-holds-barred attitude and intimidating aura to match. This drama about the lives of three people was written by Imtiaz Ali and directed by Homi Adajania. In this, Saif Ali Khan played Gautam, your quintessential (and questionable) hero who wears his heart on his sleeves. Something that began in 1994 with ‘Yeh Dillagi' continued till 2012 and grew further with ‘Jawaani Jaaneman' last year.

He forms a carnal relation with Veronica till he begins to fall for Meera (newcomer Diana Penty) as her traditions and Indian values charm him. Love triangles in Hindi Cinema cannot be complete without a sprinkling of melodrama and this one is no exception. Veronica is shattered and so is her ego. She ruins her love for Gautam and friendship with Meera as she has fallen for him too. Despite the highly debatable premise, ‘Cocktail' was a riot only because of Padukone.

She was a hoot right from the first reel to the last, chewing every flesh in what is one of her meatiest roles. With sharp dialogues, drastically improved diction, and charismatic screen presence, she rediscovered her voice as an actor and also reinvented herself as a star who was almost on the brink of fading away in oblivion. The film was titled ‘Cocktail' and the reason can be interpreted in many ways.

It was indeed a cocktail of comedy, romance, tears, and comedy again. It had a cocktail of different people living under the same roof, but most importantly, Padukone as Veronica truly left fans intoxicated. From being written off (almost) to being written about (almost daily), the last nine years have only seen her stardom and success grow with each passing year. Playing flawed characters flawlessly indeed heals ailing careers.

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