Aishwarya inspired Deepika to join films

Bollywood debutante Deepika Padukone finds it flattering that she is being compared with Aishwarya Rai and admits to having followed the former Miss World's career closely and taken inspiration from it to enter Bollywood. Seen in this file photo is Deepika Padukone at the press conference to announce the 'Om Shanti Om' tie with Lycra MTV Style Awards. Photo Credit: IANS

30 October 2007 (Sawf News) - Bollywood debutante Deepika Padukone finds it flattering that she is being compared with Aishwarya Rai and admits to having followed the former Miss World's career closely and taken inspiration from it to enter Bollywood.

"She is someone I have grown watching. I've been watching her ever since she won the Miss World. And she is partly responsible for me wanting to get into this industry," she told CNN-IBN.

Incidently Deepika made her debut in films playing a lead role in a Kannada film titled Aishwarya.

Deepika's first Bollywood film, Om Shanti Om, is set to premier November 8 at the Empire Cinema in London's Leicester Square and she admits to being nervous, anxious and a bundle of nerves, but in all probabilities is confident that with Shah Rukh Khan helming the project and playing the lead she has little to fear.

The 21-year-old plans to wear a dress by designer Manish Malhotra for the London premier.

"I will definitely be wearing Manish Malhotra. He is someone whose style I admire and it suits me a lot. He has styled the entire film for me and there is no one else I would go with for the premiere," she says.

Oh! We agree sweetheart, but doubt Vidya Balan would agree with that assessment.

Deepika is unfazed by the media comparison between her and debutant Sonam Kapoor whose film Saawariya is also slated for a Diwali release.

Commenting on the clash of the two big budget films she says:

"I'm sure they have also worked as hard as we have so I would like to wish them all the best."