Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif
Deepika Padukone and Katrina KaifReuters/Varinder Chawla

It appears like the new-age B-town heroines no longer hesitate to appreciate the hard work their fellow actresses have had put in their films.

Deepika Padukone, who is busy with the promotion of her upcoming film, "Happy New Year", along with Shah Rukh Khan, was recently seen defending her ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor's alleged girlfriend, Katrina Kaif.

In a recent interview during "Happy New Year" promotions, when the leggy lass was asked what makes her take up a performance-driven role or a show piece role, Padukone asked for references regarding the "show piece" term.

When she was given the reference of the "Bang Bang" actress from her role in "Jab Tak Hain Jaan", Padukone said: "But according to her she has worked very hard no? Then how can you call her a showpiece," according to a report in Bollywood Life.

The "Chennai Express" actress further stated that being an actress is not an easy task, it involves a lot of hard work.

Moreover, the actress feels that the selection of films and roles is an individual choice and that it is not fair on her part to comment on others preferences rather she wishes to talk about her films. Padukone refers to her films, "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey", "Break Ke Baad" and "Lafangey Parindey", which were character-oriented but didn't work at the box office.

Padukone stresses that she believes that if a film does well, people will remember the character –whether performance-driven or glamorous. Hence, she selects her movies based on the its fate and try making justice to her role.

"I am just trying to say that the hard work and effort is still the same. Being a heroine is not easy, let me tell you that. It looks very glamorous and like a great life but its lot of hard work. Secondly, I don't think I can comment on other people's choice of films or other people's choice of roles. Some things may appeal to me, some things may not. So I can only speak for the films that I have done and I would like to believe that I have largely done films, even my flop films – Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, Break Ke Baadand Lafangey Parindey, which were character driven." said the dusky beauty star.

The "Ram-Leela" actress added: "People don't remember them because the film didn't do well. That's why we say the most important thing is for the film to do well. If a film does well, you remember the success and characters. So I have always selected my films like that and I try to do justice to those characters." 

Meanwhile, "Happy New Year" is slated to release on 24 October and apart from Khan and Padukone, the film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah.