Deepika: Making news off screen

Deepika Padukone, who celebrates her 26th birthday today was spotted partying with her beau Sidhartha Mallya at the Olive Bar in Mumbai recently. The couple headed to party after attending the special screening of Desi Boyz.

Even though she was not seen in many Bollywood films last year Deepika has been spotted at many award functions and parties.

Deepika was spotted at the Chivas Studio bash, the DY Patil Annual Achiever's Awards 2011, the Hello Awards and GQ India Men of the Year Awards 2011.

Being close to Sidhartha Mallya means Deepika closely follows the fortunes of Force India, sometimes posting messages on Twitter to show her support, like this one:"Congratulations #ForceIndia for securing more points at Monza!!!!".

The former model also walked the ramp at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2012. She wore a moonlight white bridal beach gown scattered with rose petal confetti and swirling butterflies.

Deepika was seen at the birthday bash of Salman's sister Arpita Khan.

The usually glamorous Deepika Padukone got a makeunder in the movie Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. As revolutionary Kalpana Dutta, she played an educated woman in pre-Independence, rural Bengal.

The steamy kiss sequence with co-star Imran Khan in her last movies Break Ke Baad was a much-talked about affair.

Deepika starred opposite Neil Nitin Mukesh in Lafangey Parindey, in which she played a blind dancer.

She lost her heart to Akshay again in Housefull, and her clothes too, stripping down to an itsy-bitsy bikini. The movie was hit at the box office.

She was cast opposite Farhan Akhtar in Karthik Calling Karthik, which performed moderately well at the box office.

Deepika has posed for Maxim as well.

Deepika's dusky beauty and star quality made her the cover girl of choice for leading magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, L'Officiel, Elle and FHM.

Pics:Bollywood's Top Cover Girls

She also bagged IIFA Awards' Best Debutant (Om Shanti Om) in 2008.

She starred in Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal (2009) opposite Saif Ali Khan, which was also a hit.

In 2009 came Chandni Chowk to China, where she was paired opposite Akshay Kumar, the film was a major flop.

Deepika next appeared in Siddharth Anand's Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) opposite Ranbir Kapoor, which was a hit.

Her performance was well received, earning the actress a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award as well as her first Filmfare Best Actress nomination.

She then made a dream debut in Bollywood opposite no less than Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om (2007). In the reincarnation and revenge themed blockbuster she played ‘70s filmstar Shantipriya and the modern day Sandy who just happens to look exactly like the dead actress.

Deepika followed up her hugely successful modeling career with an appearance in the music video for Himesh Reshammiya's Naam Hai Tera. Her first movie was Kannada film Aishwarya (2006) co-starring Upendra.

A year later, they were history and the lady is now rumoured to be dating Kingfisher scion Siddharth Mallya.

Deepika and Ranbir, her co-star from Bachna Ae Haseenon, were a picture perfect couple. But as fame is fickle, so was this romance.

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh caught her fancy next and she reportedly threw him a birthday bash in Sydney. Neither have confirmed the relationship.

Leggy lass Deepika has always been popular with the boys. Before her Bollywood days, she dated longtime friend Nihar Pandya. The relationship went kaput when filmi fame came Deepika's way, though she maintains that she and Nihar remain friends.

Pics:Deepika And Her Men

Deepika was also chosen as the brand ambassador of Kingfisher Airlines and later Levi Strauss and Tissot SA.

She appeared on the 2006 Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar and won 2 trophies at the Idea Zee Fashion Awards – Female Model of the Year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the Year.

Hot bod Deepika was Model of the Year at the 5th Kingfisher Fashion Awards.

Over the years, she has modeled for Liril, Dabur Lal powder, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca, and has been "brand ambassador" for the Jewels of India retail jewelery show. The cosmetics company Maybelline made her its international spokesperson.

Her understated look is a far cry from her glamourama days as an in demand model.

Here's wishing one of Bollywood talented, young actors a happy year ahead.