Deepika: The sexiest woman in the world!

While only in the limelight for one year, Deepika Padukone has already made quite the splash.

And now, Bollywood's fresh catch just got a little bigger. Maxim-India, the men's lifestyle magazine, has released its first ever Maxim Hot 100 List, and Deeps comes out smelling like roses.

The Om Shanti Om star was voted the World's Sexiest Woman, beating Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Aiswarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek and Anna Kournikova.

At a time when many pundits have gifted 'top heroine' status to Kareena and Katrina, Deepika might use her Maxim victory as a way to build momentum before her second film, Bachna Ae Haseeno, which is set for an August 15 release.

As for being named India's number 1 hottie, Deepika expressed shock and gratitude in a recently released press statement. 'To be honest, personally I never thought of myself as 'sexy' or 'hot' but if that's the call that people have taken, then I hope I live up to it. I am so excited about this,' she said.

Anup Kutty, editor of Maxim-India, said Deepika was selected because, "apart from her huge fan following with the new generation of Indians, she also has the potential to be an international face."

But all you bachelors out there, don't get your hopes up. The actress has tattooed 'RK' on the nape of her neck, for her beau, Ranbir Kapoor. Evidently, this isn't puppy love, as, like diamonds, tattoos are forever!

Well, at least there are always pictures.