Koel Purie:The oh so polite Ms Padukone

Deepika Padukone is really well brought up. A day after I had invited her for a coffee and chat on the couch, she sent me a thank you text saying, what a wonderful host I was and that she had a lovely time. I was charmed. Not just a pretty face but well mannered. But my training on the couch has taught me not to take things at face value and always dig deeper. There had to be more to the thank you text than just appreciation and good manners. Oh come on, I'm not a cynic just a realist.

I didn't have to wait long. Pat came text number two. I was right. Deepika (again very politely) requested me to edit a tiny bit out. Of course, I obliged. There was nothing potent about the byte and it would make little difference to the interview one way or the other. This is not the first time I've been asked to edit something out. The message, however, never comes directly it's usually routed from their 'people' to 'my people'. I rarely oblige because I don't like being pushed and certainly not by 'people'. Deepika was smart about it. So this is how to get your way - always charm not coerce. Most of all, I liked that she cut the middle woman and did her dirty work herself.

The more time I spend on the couch, the more I realise that no one has got to the top by mere luck or good looks. Deepika hasn't just fluked upon her haloed life, her perfect figure, her dream debut, her Bollywood royalty boyfriend and even her non controversial existence. She has worked at it with a one tracked focus of making it and making it big. As soon as she was old enough she strutted her stare-worthy beauty and giraffe legs on the ramp. And always being well mannered, down to earth, smiley and she ensured she was at the right places, at the right time, with the right people spotting her if not already with her.

One thing was clear after the whole text interaction, she takes herself and her career rather seriously and thinks about every move, every word and every appearance she makes. Deepika leaves nothing to chance. More power to her. I, and especially when I'm sitting on the couch, am all about chance and letting out whatever comes out of my ill-trained mouth before I've thought about thinking.

So without a moment's pause, I let lose my naughty mood. I asked her what would make her agree to an indecent proposal. Why she feels the need to moral police her public display of physical affection for her hot lover. When I made a sexual pass at her, she ever so sweetly passed. Nothing seemed to ruffle the feathers of Miss Proper. Nor could I find any deep dark layers to this dusky diva. But sometimes that's a discovery in itself. Simplicity is a virtue and this lovely lady came as a timely reminder of it.

Tune into Headlines Today this Saturday, March 28, at 7 pm and Sunday, March 29, at 1 pm to catch the polite one cheekily imitate me on my own couch.

While that's just a glimpse of what happened at Harper's Bazaar second edition's cover shoot. You can catch the complete action Exclusively on Headlines Today at 7:00 PM on March 27th and 10:00 PM on March 29th.

Deepika looks lovely in the picture. Looking forward for the interview.