Deepika Padukone clears the air about Shah Rukh Khan

Deepika Padukone has rubbished rumours that her Chennai Express co-star Shah Rukh Khan asked her not to go on the promotional tour of her film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) and says he would never do such a thing.

“That’s not true at all. Shah Rukh is the most encouraging person I have worked with. He is extremely proud of my achievements and he would never do something like that,” she said.

The makers of YJHD, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Padukone, organised a world tour to promote the movie, but reportedly Khan asked Padukone to stay back and complete their film. Padukone did not attend a YJHD event in Dubai last week.

Padukone, at the People magazine launch event in Mumbai, minced no words in praising Khan. “I am comfortable around him,” said the actress who made her Bollywood debut with Khan in the 2007 hit movie Om Shanti Om.

“In the first film, I was just too shocked and surprised about that I got such a debut,” she said.

“He [Khan] is definitely a friend. He is always been someone who I can rely on or call on any time or whatever.”

Directed by Rohit Shetty, Chennai Express is scheduled for release in August this year. –IANS