Deepika Padukone welcomed Sridevi's praise of her work and said she admires the veteran actress, whose films she grew up watching. Sridevi, who is set to make a comeback with English Vinglish, the debut directorial project of R Balki's wife Gauri, had recently said she liked Deepika among the current crop of female stars in Bollywood.

"It is a huge compliment. She is someone I have admired. I grew up watching all her films. It is nice to know that she admires my work," Deepika, who was given the Smita Patil Memorial Award for best actor by Priyadarshani Academy, said. On the honour she received, Deepika said, "The fact that I have got this award at an early phase of my career makes me feel happy and it makes me feel that I must be doing the right kind of work. "It gives me confidence to do the kind of films I want to do and believe in roles that excite me. I will continue working hard," she said.

When asked if she thinks of winning a national award, Deepika said, "Every actor dreams of it. When you do a shot in front of the camera, it is not on your mind. You are not working to win awards. "But at the end of the day, when you finish a film and have put in all the hard work, you wish for an award and if a national award comes my way, then it is definitely a good thing," she said. Deepika will be seen next in Karan Johar's home production Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani opposite Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ram Leela and in Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express, opposite Shah Rukh Khan.