Clash of the Debutantes!

Who do you think will come out tops between Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor? We let their directors take a call

November 9 is a big day for Deepika Padukone (who stars with Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om) and star kid Sonam Kapoor (who will be seen with another star kid Ranbir Kapoor in Saawariya). Comparisons are inevitable.Naturally, directors Farah Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are possessive about their newest leading ladies, so we thought it would be a good idea for them to comment on the other’s star.

While Farah replied to all questions in her usual forthright manner, Bhansali behaved like the quintessential spoilsport by refusing to comment on either Deepika, Sonam or OSO!

Your take on Sanjay Bhansali as a director?
Farah: I have seen most of his films. I guess he is a good director.

Your take on Farah Khan as a director?
Sanjay: No comments.

What do you think of Saawariya’s promo?
Farah: I haven’t seen it. I’ve been busy watching my own promos on TV!

What do you think of OSO’s promo?
Sanjay: I haven’t seen it.

Any words on Sonam?
Farah: Sonam looks lovely and comes from a great lineage. One hasn’t seen her on screen to comment about her acting, but I’m sure she’ll do well. After all, her father (Anil Kapoor) is a great actor.

Any words on Deepika?
Sanjay: I don’t want to comment on Deepika as I haven’t seen OSO’s promos.

What are Dipika’s strengths and weaknesses?
Farah: Deepika is very beautiful, has a great body and is a fabulous dancer. It’s too early to talk about her weaknesses as OSO is her first film. She is raw and needs practice in voice modulation, etc which she will pick up soon. She’s a very fast learner.

What are Sonam’s strengths and weaknesses?
Sanjay: It’s too soon to talk about this.

What successful actress would you compare your leading lady to?
Farah: Deepika has the poise and grace of Hema Malini. In song sequences, she’s like Madhuri — a total phataka!

Sanjay: Give it a couple of weeks and I’ll be able to talk about Sonam then.
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However, an insider tells us Mr B is not only lying, he’s also running scared! “I’m telling you, Lily (short for Leela and a popular nickname for the Devdas director) has seen the promos of Om Shanti Om. In fact, both he and Shah Rukh (Khan) were shooting in Film City, when SRK invited him over for lunch. Lily saw the promos and an entire song featuring Deepika on SRK’s laptop. He went into depression after that,” says a catty source.

Another bitchy source called to say it was strange that Bhansali had refused to speak about Sonam Kapoor. “The entire world’s been calling Farah to say how petty Bhansali sounded in that article. Farah’s looking like Mother Teresa compared to him!”