It's not about size of role in Hollywood, but experience: Deepika

From Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Nimrat Kaur to Irrfan Khan, Bollywood stars are making a splash in the West. But they are often criticised for their blink-and-miss appearances. Actress Deepika Padukone, who is making her Hollywood debut with "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage", says it is not about the size of the role, but the experience that makes it worthwhile.

"You have to look at everything that you get as an opportunity. There is no role too small or too big. I think it's what you make of that opportunity. Sometimes the smallest part teaches you a lot. Not judging from what anyone has done in the past, I do feel lucky that I got the opportunity with 'xXx...'," Deepika said here on the sidelines of the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) celebrations.

Talking specifically about "xXx", she said: "It is not about the size of the role but the experience. It was fun."

Deepika will be seen as Serena in the film. "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage", a sequel to the 2002 film "xXx" and 2005 film "xXx: State of the Union", also stars Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. The film is slated to release on January 20, 2017.

Commenting on her journey from Bollywood to Hollywood, the actress said: "I think it kind of fell in place... Sometimes certain things happen when it is supposed to. It (the Hollywood film) has been like any other films. I was offered the film and I loved the part."

Besides, she will be seen doing a lot of action scenes in the film -- a genre she explored with Bollywood film "Chandni Chowk To China" in 2009.

"At the end of the day you always want to challenge yourself. This is one such activity," she said.

It was in 2007 that Deepika made her foray into Bollywood, but much before that she was a successful model and had plum endorsements.

Since her Bollywood launch with "Om Shanti Om", Deepika has had an impressive career graph backed by her ability to slip into disticnt characters with ease. Whether it is nerdy Naina of "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", the bold Leela in "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", a doting daughter in "Piku" or valiant warrior Mastani in her last release "Bajirao Mastani" -- she's played it all well.

Deepika noted that the Indian film industry "has evolved so much over the years".

"We have big studios coming in, whether it is the kind of movies which we are making, female-centric films or be it the work ethics - the fact is that after doing Indian films and then doing a film in the west other than the team being different, it felt exactly the same. It says a lot about where we are as a nation," she said.

For now, she is soaking in the IIFA fever here. The four-day gala, which began on Thursday, will conclude with a colourful and exuberant awards ceremony on Sunday. And the actress will also be performing.

(The writer's trip is at the invitation of the IIFA organisers. Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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