Saif Ali Khan: 'Deepika Padukone is in class of her own'

Saif Ali Khan has said that Aarakshan co-star Deepika Padukone is one of only "four leading ladies" in Bollywood.

The controversial film by Rajneeti director Prakash Jha sees Khan playing an academic of the Dalit caste who finds himself falling in love with the daughter of his mentor.

The actor has been paired with Padukone before in Love Aaj Kal and Om Shanti Om.

Khan told The Times of India: "I must say there are only four major leading ladies in Bollywood today.

"That certainly doesn't leave me with much choice. Deepika and I in four films... I certainly didn't engineer it. It just happened.

"She is a lovely girl, but I am hoping to team up with other girls too. Currently, I am in a good space. Life is balanced. I can focus on my career with no distractions, which is a nice feeling."

Khan added that he has stopped worrying about success, despite recent failures such as Kurbaan and the delay in releasing the James Bond-inspired Agent Vinod.

"I have started to enjoy the process of acting much more now. I know some films will run, some won't," he said.

"I feel I am good at what I do. I'm lucky to be in a profession that I enjoy and I should quit worrying about success and failure."

Padukone recently described Khan as a "pleasure to work with".

Khan and Padukone will next be seen in the romantic comedy Cocktail, which features a London setting.

Watch Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan in the trailer for Aarakshan below: