Deepika Padukone recently took to Instagram to wish filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali a happy 25th birthday. The actress wrote a touching letter to the filmmaker.

She wrote, ”9th NOVEMBER 2007. My debut film Om Shant Om was pitted against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. And as grateful as I was (And I still am… I cannot think of another female actor who has been launched in the same manner as I was).’’

She went on saying‘’I also remember thinking to myself at the same time, that I would never be good enough..to be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali muse.’’

‘’Fast forward to 2012. I was extremely unwell and laid up in bed. I received a call from my management saying ”Sanjay Leela Bhansali wants to meet you”. I said, ”What?!. They said, ”Yes! He is doing a film and you really like to meet you”.

”I would do cartwheels to go and see him right away, but I can’t get out of my bed right now!” I said. The next thing I know, he was on his way to see me!

‘’What ensued in the years that followed was nothing short of an ‘iconic partnership’ I believe. And together we’ve created ‘iconic characters’. Characters that have been etched in the minds and hearts of people forever!’’

‘’What I cherish even more though is the influence our collaboration has done on me personally. I say this without a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if it wasn’t for Sanjay Leela Bhansali!”.