Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who is reuniting with his ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone in Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’, said that Deepika Padukone is has changed a lot from when he knew her.

“I am amazed, shocked and wonderfully surprised seeing the growth of Deepika as an actor. Apart from working with her, I've also been in a relationship with her and just her growth as a human being has been amazing. When we meet, I can see the confidence, I can see the understanding of Indian cinema, of life, etc. She has changed as a person,” said Ranbir Kapoor to Bollywood Hungama in an interview.

Ranbir Kapoor, who has always said that Deepika Padukone is a ‘beautiful person’, still stands by his statement.

“I've always maintained that she is a beautiful person. Apart from being physically attractive, she is beautiful from within. She has a good heart. So when somebody comes closer to their art / work and somebody who can surrender to that, that person becomes more beautiful. Deepika has surrendered to her work brilliantly. I was really amazed by her performance in ‘Cocktail’,” he said.

When asked about his favorite hero and heroine from Bollywood he said, “My favorite Bollywood hero has to be my father, Mr. Rishi Kapoor. From the new lot I've really enjoyed Ranveer Singh's performance, Arjun Kapoor is promising, Nawazuddin is a great talent and amongst the girls I like Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, what Katrina does is also amazing and Parineeti Chopra.”

Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’ produced by Karan Johar is scheduled to release on March 29 2013.