Already making waves on the global platform, Deepika Padukone, the epitome of elegance and grace, set the temperatures soaring at the Cannes Film Festival this year. She made her red carpet debut as L’Oréal Paris’ ambassador, but she wishes to showcase some of her films at the festival.

Quiz Deepika on the movie she’d love to screen at Cannes, and she quips, “A film of mine which I wish I could bring along is Piku. It’s a film I’m proud of, and would’ve loved to show here.”

Indian stars’ appearances at red carpet events have always made headlines. What they wear and how they pull it off has been on the radar of fashion watchers across the world.

Deepika’s last outing at the MET Gala was received with mixed feelings, when fellow compatriot in the West, Priyanka Chopra’s look was panned. Deepika resp-onds to that, saying, “I don’t think I’m enough of a fashion expert to comment on anybody else’s style. We need to respect the fact that different people express themselves differently. Some-times you may identify with it, sometimes you don’t. But you have give people the liberty to try different things, and have fun at the red carpet. People need not be critical all the time.”

On day one of the festival, Deepika walked down wearing a jewel toned maroon creation by Marchesa Notte, paired aptly with Jimmy Choo heels and De Grisogono jewellery. Her second red carpet appearance saw her make a bold statement with smoky eyes in an antique green gown.

With the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor already having sashayed down the Cannes red carpet, comparisons are bound to happen. But Deepika scoffs them off. “It’s obvious (the comparisons). It’s an incredible platform; we’re here to represent our brand, and we’re all here because we’re strong individuals in our own different ways. There is no overlap in that. Sometimes we get into this space of comparison unnecessarily.”

As far as her films go, Deepika asserts that people there perceive Indian cinema positively and have a keen understanding of how the industry functions. “They know everything about our industry,” she explains. “When journalists come here, they have a lot of knowledge about cinema. When they’re interacting with people, they know the work you’ve done. On several occasions, they’ve been exposed to Indian films like Devdas and Gangs of Wasseypur. They’re aware of the films we make.”

So far, Deepika seems to be enjoying the sights and sounds of Cannes. “It’s pretty incredible,” she smiles. “It’s been a lot of fun. I think just being there — the sun, weather, people — you truly have to come here to experience and understand what I'm feeling. There’s so much joy and positivity!”