Celebrating Deepika Padukone: A trailblazer & bonafide superstar who didn't shy to be vulnerable

Deepika Padukone

Rising through the ranks and breaking norms, actor Deepika Padukone is now a global phenomenon. Apart from being a bonafide superstar in all aspects, Padukone has also been a conversation starter about aspects that were initially taboo - ranging from mental health and depression to showcasing vulnerability without the pressure of any stigma. The loved female actor celebrates her 38th birthday, we decided not just to celebrate the actor she has been but highlight and talk about the probably lesser known factors related to her.

Birth and Rise With An Instant Impact

Not many would know that actually, Padukone wasn't born in India but in Copenhagen, Denmark; it was only a year later she relocated with her parents to Bangalore (now Bengaluru), India. Known to be a socially awkward child, Padukone continued to study but soon found her calling being a teenager in modelling. It was here where she started rising through the ranks and caught the notice of many. And before one knew it, she starred in the music video Naam Hai Tera alongside Himesh Reshammiya (a rage at that time). This appearance was enough to make an instant impact that was set to propel her to get into movies, which happened first in the form of the Kannada film Aishwarya in 2006 and then, of course, the mega-blockbuster in the Hindi film alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om in 2007.

Finding Her Footing To Being a Superstar

It wasn't an easy road right away for her as following her debut, Padukone struggled with film choices and their subsequent impact with a string of failures and underwhelming films. But Cocktail (2012) changed the way she was perceived, as the actor has admitted in several interviews. Then, there was no looking back for her as she continued to star in one blockbuster after another that attained her 'superstar' status.

Beyond Films and Businesses - The Human In Her

What makes Padukone special and one of the most respected figures is when Padukone showcased her vulnerability with grace and panache to her millions of fans. Opening up about facing depression and how she tackled it, Padukone broke several taboos and barriers attached to the topic. She never did it to attain unwanted attention or sympathy but did so to have everyone be empathetic towards people who are facing it and start a conversation. Even to date, Padukone has only been more and more open about things and topics that not many A-list female actors talk about, owing to the obvious gender discrimination that exists. This is also reflected in her professional choices, where films like Finding Fanny, Piku, Chhapaak and even Gehraiyaan showcased sides of the actor that not many were used to.

In The Public Eye and So Many Firsts

Just like any superstar in India, Padukone's private life has always been in the public eye and probably the maximum chunk of all the controversies stemmed from here. Her relationships, breakups and more rumoured linkups led to curiosity among her fans until her relationship with now-husband Ranveer Singh, transpired. Nevertheless, above and beyond her personal life, Padukone justified her stardom and influence on the world stage with so many 'firsts.' Be it being the first Indian female actor to be a part of the Cannes Jury panel and the first Indian female actor to present at the Oscars where she talked about the song, Naatu Naatu from RRR. from being listed in the Top 100 Women Achievers in India to being the founder of 82*E - she has a bigger presence now than ever.

Coming Full Circle & Looking Ahead

2023 seemed like poetic justice for Deepika Padukone. The man she began her Hindi film career with (SRK), she also became her leading lady in the man's comeback of sorts with Pathaan. And while that was fantastic, it was Padukone's cameo in Jawan that felt like her coming to a full circle. Where SRK's presence was enough in her debut, Om Shanti Om, her presence in Jawan was enough to have more people pay attention to the film and make it an all-time blockbuster - it felt like the kind of journey no one can script.

And now, as she celebrates her birthday, the lady is only looking ahead to bigger challenges, bigger achievements and more milestones to reach at. She will once again be the first female cop in Rohit Shetty's cop universe, Singham Again and she will also be the head in the futuristic sci-fi PAN India film Kalki 2898 AD, while Fighter is just on the horizon for release.

Raising a toast to Deepika Padukone on her birthday - a trailblazer and an icon forever!