When Diana Penty looks back at her debut in Cocktail (2012), one name stands out above everything else: Deepika Padukone. The actress, who stepped into Bollywood with no acting background, admits that
having Deepika by her side on her very first film set was nothing short of a blessing.
At the NDTV Yuva Conclave session titled “Breaking Stereotypes,” Diana opened up about her journey and the impact Deepika had on her as a newcomer.
“Deepika Was My Pillar Of Support”
Recalling her early days on the set of Cocktail, Diana said, “She was honestly the best co-actor to have in my first film. Deepika and Saif were both my pillars of support through the times when I knew nothing. I was literally on a film set for the first time in my life, doing my first few scenes, my first few dialogue deliveries. Everything was so surreal, so new for me, but the two of them made sure that they supported me throughout. They made me feel completely comfortable, made light of everything. If I forgot my lines and we had to redo the scene, they made me feel like it was no big deal. So I really, really appreciate that.”
From that point on, Diana said her respect for Deepika only grew. “I had so many scenes with her, and I’ve always seen her — she’s very, very hard working, extremely dedicated. And I mean, I think she has a great working style.”
“Extremely Professional. 10 On 10.”
When asked how professional she finds Deepika, Diana didn’t hesitate. “Extremely professional. 10. Yeah, 10. She is very, very disciplined. And I think that also comes from her upbringing and her background, being a sports player as well. She is disciplined.”
Diana also noted how Deepika’s sense of discipline and focus reflected in every aspect of her work, making her not just a superstar but also an ideal colleague.
Diana Penty On Her Own Journey
Diana shared how challenges have always been her driving force, starting right from Cocktail. “The recipe has always been to keep it different each time, and I’m a complete scorpion. So for me, you throw a challenge at me, and I will make it my life’s mission to make sure that I do my best at it, and I prove everybody who thought that I couldn’t do it wrong.”
She recalled how she jumped into acting without any prior training: “I didn’t even know at that point that I wanted to be an actor. It just came by and I said, hey, this is a challenge. It’s a great way to start out an acting career. What better way than to be launched at that time by Maddock Films, Dinesh Vijan, and to be directed by Homi Adajania, and to be in a film with Saif and Deepika as my first ever film. So I just shut my eyes and I said, I’m gonna go through this process and do whatever it takes to prepare for it, but I’m gonna do it right.”
On the work front, Diana Penty was last seen in the Amazon Prime series Do You Wanna Partner alongside Tamannaah Bhatia and Nakuul Mehta. The series, which marked her long-format digital debut, revolves around two best friends navigating gender bias in the NCR craft beer market. She has also been part of Detective Sherdil, Chhaava, Azaad, Selfiee, and Shiddat.
Starting her journey as a model before making a splash in Bollywood with Cocktail, Diana has since featured in films like Happy Bhag Jayegi, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, and Lucknow Central. With each step, she has proven that challenging norms — and herself — is her biggest driving force.
