Deepika Padukone has come a long way in her film career since her debut in ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2009) opposite Shah Rukh Khan (Padukone made her acting debut with the 2006 Kannada-language film “Aishwarya”) .
She has given several impressive performances over the last few years and is now one of the leading ladies in Bollywood. In 2019, Deepika also featured in the Top 10 of Forbes India 100 Celebs List.
Date of Birth: January 5, 1986
Star Sign: Capricorn
Deepika is a Mangalorean and they speak Konkani at home.
Deepika is daughter of famous Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone; she was born in Copenhagen, Denmark where her father was training for Badminton. The family later moved to Bangalore when she was just eleven-months-old. However, Deepika was never fascinated by Badminton, and instead focused on her studies, and later pursued modelling.
While in college, Deepika pursued a career in modelling and featured in Liril and Limca ads. She even made an appearance in the music video for Himesh Reshammiya’s Naam Hai Tera song, before making her acting debut.
After the huge success of ‘Padmaavat’, Deepika is is not so keen to do big-banner movies with top heroines playing the conventional leading lady.
Now, the script has to offer her as much to do as the male protagonist, to get her interested. This is also one of the reasons, Deepika has decided to turn a producer.
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Secondly, she wants her remuneration to be on par with the leading male heroes. I guess, at this stage of her career, she deserves both; and it makes sense to wait for a script that will offer her both – good role as well as money.
Read: Deepika Padukone was paid more than Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor for Padmaavat
Deepika will soon be seen in Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Chhapaak’. She will also be seen in Kabir Khan’s sports drama ’83’ alongside husband Ranveer Singh.
Deepika Padukone made her debut as a fashion designer with Van Heusen Woman’s ‘Limited Edition’ collection, this campaign was shot in Milan, Italy
Deepika Padukone to play mafia queen Sapna Didi, who almost killed Dawood Ibrahim
Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan who worked together in ‘Piku’ will be seen together in Vishal Bhardwaj’s next film. Deepika will play feared female don, Rahima Khan aka Sapna Didi, who’s known for almost killing Dawood Ibrahim.
The female don had executed the plan of killing Dawood Ibrahim to seek revenge of her husband’s death. Vishal, who is penning the script of the film, is taking inspiration from Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’.
“My debut in Hollywood doesn’t make Priyanka Chopra and me professional rivals,” says Deepika
Deepika Padukone’s debut Hollywood film ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’ did decent business at the box office. More importantly it marked Deepika’s debut in Hollywood, and she is now eyeing bigger Hollywood films.
However, the young actress is now being compared with Priyanka Chopra, with several entertainment magazines saying the two are now professional rivals, because they are the only ones (females) from India to work in Hollywood.
However, Deepika begs to differ.
“Priyanka Chopra and I are not professional rivals. I have known her for many years and she is like a friend to me. We are not professional rivals, we never were. So, why should we be now, after I have made my Hollywood debut (with XXX: Return of Xander Cage), says Deepika.
The Initial Struggle
Like most other superstars in Bollywood (whose first film did well, and then they really had to struggle before they became superstars), even Deepika seems to be following a similar path.
Films like ‘Break Ke Baad’ (Imran Khan), ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ (Farhan Akhtar), ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ (Abhishek Bachchan) and ‘Lafangey Parindey’ (Neil Nitin Mukesh), in which Deepika starred, did little to establish her as an actor.
However, experienced filmmakers were still interested to work with the actress, and knew that it was just a matter of time before she would deliver big hits. ‘Aarakshan’ and ‘Desi Boyz’ were better, but still not enough.
Things changed with ‘Cocktail’, where she played a heady mix i-don’t-care attitude and ultra-modern avatar of Veronica. The movie showcased Deepika in various shades, which allowed her to show her true talent. And probably it was the first time that people in the industry started acknowledging her ‘acting’ skills.
The films that followed only increased her stature with every release.
The multi-starrer ‘Race 2’ was a bit hit, and despite having several actors, Deepika sizzled. ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani’ (with ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor) turned out to be a blockbuster, where she played the girl next-door.
‘Chennai Express’ with SRK smashed all records, and she was appreciated for her looks, the thick accent, and her spirited performance…
And with ‘Ram Leela’, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmavat, Deepika confirmed her status as the new superstar in Bollywood.
Though our superstars are hounded by fans wherever they go, it rarely happens that one is approached by more foreigners (than Indians) for autographs. When Deepika last toured USA and Europe with her parents and sister for vacation, there were many foreigners who wanted to click photographs with her. People from Germany, Japan and other countries, in addition to several NRIs, wanted to pose with her.
She is one of the few actors in Bollywood who has plenty of brand endorsements in addition to movies on her plate. And she is also one of the more professional stars, who is ready to shoot for 14-15 hours a day (without complaining) to wrap up her assignments.
Dips goes braless for Vogue India cover shoot
Deepika Padukone graced the cover of Vogue India’s June issue in a black and white checkered bikini bottoms and a men’s white dress shirt unbuttoned – revealing that she is not wearing a bra. Read more here…
