Gossip Hot : Ranveer Singh: 'Deepika holds a special significance in my life

Ranveer Singh has admitted that Deepika Padukone is special in his life. 

In a candid conversation, Singh waxed lyrical about his Ram Leela co-star, but maintained that they are "just friends".

"Deepika holds a special significance in my life," he told PTI. "She is somebody I respect and admire a lot, somebody whom I have grown close to. 

"She is an awesome person, she is somebody for whom I have great amount of admiration."

Singh and Padukone won accolades for their performances in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali retelling of Romeo and Juliet and their sparkling on-screen chemistry fuelled rumours of a blossoming romance. 

The pair were recently spotted together in New York where they were celebrating Padukone's birthday, but the actor claims that she is just a friend like any other. 

"We are friends. We go out and hang out," explained Singh. "I go out and hang out with lot of other people as well, but they are not as famous as her... she is a very cool person to hang out with, I thoroughly enjoy her company. 

"We hang out like any other youngsters who are friendly with each other. I have school friends, Arjun Kapoor... and assistant directors etc with whom I go out. I am protective about all my friends." 

Unlike some peers who have sworn off dating their co-stars, the Lootera actor said that he would not have any problems dating an actress. 

"I think it is good if you have a common ground, you understand each other's work and you have many things to talk about, common interest. I don't think there is any problem in that." 

The 28-year-old was previously linked with his Band Baaja Baaraat co-star Anushka Sharma.

While he admits they are no longer close, he still holds much affection for his first leading lady. 

"I did my first and second film with Anushka, so we used to work together, we used to get time to interact a lot. After that we haven't worked together, so we have drifted apart. 

"But she is somebody who always holds a special significance in my life as she was my first heroine. She is somebody who taught me so many things as I was raw and new.... I genuinely believe she is one of the outstanding talents our industry has." 

Singh stars with Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Kapoor in the forthcoming release Gunday.