Deepika scares me as an actor: Ranbir Kapoor

Films as varied as "Raajneeti", "Rockstar", "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and "Barfi!" have been a window to his versatility. But Ranbir Kapoor says his "Tamasha" co-star and former girlfriend Deepika Padukone, whom he calls a "mastikhor (fun-lover)", "scares" him as an actor.

"Deepika's growth has been immense as an actor. It feels great whenever I work with her and I feel the most creatively satisfied working with her. I look up to her as an actor, and she scares me as an actor," Ranbir said here during a media interaction.

Together, the two actors have worked in "Bachna Ae Haseeno" and "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani". And Ranbir feels time has only improved Deepika personally and professionally.

"When I worked with her in 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', she was a very different entity. She was shy, demure and a little introvert. Then when I worked with her in 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani', there was a sudden leap and understanding of cinema and life, and little bit baring of her soul which we are all scared to do," he shared.

Ranbir also said that "apart from the grace and dignity", Deepika is a jovial, fun-loving person.

"You can speak to her, you can dance with her, you can have fun with her, you can do cheap Ganpati dance with her and she reciprocates very well," he quipped.

From being friends to lovers and now friends again, there's a unique bond that Deepika and Ranbir seem to share.

"It's been an amazing journey," Deepika said.

"It's nice to see the person he has become, his journey and the films he has done... how talented he is. Working with him makes you a better person and actor because he is so good at his work that he makes you look good on screen." she added.

For "Tamasha", the two actors have been directed by Imtiaz Ali, with whom Ranbir has worked in "Rockstar" and Deepika has worked in "Love Aaj Kal".

"We couldn't have asked for a better combination," Ranbir said.

The film, releasing on November 27, tells the journey of a man who loses himself by living according to the social conventions expected of him.