Deepika Padukone
Actress Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone has apparently made it to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's list of top actresses. 

The 27-year-old dusky beauty has impressed critics and audience with her impeccable performance in films like "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and "Chennai Epress", but insiders say that her best performance will be brought to the audience through Bhansali's "Ram Leela".

"The film will be a bigger hit than Bhansali's Devdas, and Deepika will effortlessly join the ranks of India's greatest acting talent," DNA quoted a source as saying.

"Ram Leela", starring Ranveer Singh in the male lead, is said to be an intense love story inspired from William Shakespeare's famous novel 'Romeo and Juliet'. The film will be Deepika's fourth release of the year. All her previous releases  including "Race 2", "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and "Chennai Express" hit the ₹100 crore mark at the box office.

Praising Deepika for her performance in "Ram Leela", Bhansali said, "Deepika has created magic in Ram Leela. I am so glad I chose her for this project. This film takes me and her to to another level." He also stressed that her acting prowess will bag her several awards.

"Ram Leela" was earlier offered to Kareena Kapoor before Deepika was roped in for the venture. Rumours surfaced that Kareena walked out of the film due to her impending marriage with Saif Ali Khan last year. But she later clarified that she refused to take up the offer due to date issues. Priyanka Chopra was also said to have been considered for the project.

"Ram Leela" is slated to hit screens on 15 November.