‘Wouldn’t Be Half The Person I’m Today If It Wasn’t For Sanjay Leela Bhansali’: Deepika Padukone On SLB Completing 25 Years In Industry

Ranveer Singh also shared a video celebrating 25 years of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Take a look at the video here.

Deepika Padukone On SLB Completing 25 Years In Industry (Representative Image - Getty)

Mumbai: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the most sought-after directors in the Hindi film industry. Popular for his unique style of presenting stories, SLB completes 25 glorious years in the industry. From ‘Khamoshi’ to ‘Padmaavat’, working in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movies earned stardom for many actors.

One such talented actress is Deepika Padukone, who is one of the director’s favourite muses. Padukone has worked in three of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movies which also featured her husband Ranveer Singh. Both Deepika and Ranveer have worked with SLB in ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ and ‘Padmaavat’.

As today marks 25 years of Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the film industry, both Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh shared a note of appreciation for the filmmaker.

The ‘Pathan’ actress took to her social media and penned down a long heartfelt note for SLB. The note read, “9th November 2007. My debut film Om Shanti Om was pitted against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. And as grateful as I was (And I still am...I cannot think of another female actor who has been launched in the same manner as I was), I also remember thinking to myself at the time, that I would never be good enough...to be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali muse.”

“Fast forward to 2012. I was extremely unwell and laid up in bed. I received a call from my management saying ‘Sanjay Leela Bhansali wants to meet you.’ I said, ‘What?!’. They said, ‘Yes! He is doing a film and would really like to meet you.’ ‘I would do cartwheels to go and see him right away, but I can’t get out of bed right now!’ I said. The next thing I know, he was on his way to see me!” further read the note.

Deepika then added, “What ensued in the years that followed was nothing short of an ‘iconic partnership’ I believe. And together we’ve created ‘iconic characters’. Characters that have been etched in the minds and hearts of people forever! What I cherish even more though, is the influence our collaboration has had on me personally. I say this without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if it wasn’t for Sanjay Leela Bhansali!”

‘The Intern’ actress concluded her note and wrote, “As he embarks on the next phase of this most incredible journey, I look forward to creating many more memorable and iconic characters together, but more importantly, I wish him good health, peace of mind, and happiness...always!”

Ranveer Singh also shared a video celebrating 25 years of SLB. Take a look at the video here:

Meanwhile, speaking on the professional front, Deepika Padukone will be next seen starring opposite her husband Ranveer Singh in the sports biopic ‘83’. She will also feature opposite Amitabh Bachchan in the official Hindi remake of the Hollywood film ‘The Intern’. Deepika will also be seen featuring in ‘Pathan’, Shakun Batra’s untitled film and ‘Fighter’. She also has Nag Ashwin’s next with Prabhas in her kitty.

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