Among the current generation of female stars in the Indian scene, it is Deepika Padukone who, in a way, defines the ‘Indian star power’ as it spreads to a global level. Two weeks ago, she was featured on the International Disruptors 2024 list compiled by Deadline Hollywood magazine.

The list mentions the names of people from different backgrounds around the world, including Eva Longoria, Uma Thurman, and Lee Sung Jin, who play a role in shaping the future of the Globe in the entertainment sector.

Deepika Padukone
Source: The Indian Express

The article introduces Deepika as an unexpected superstar from India, driven by a mission to challenge norms and push boundaries. It highlights her consistent success at the box office over the past two years and her representation of India on various global stages, emphasising her multifaceted impact and influence in the industry.

Deepika said in her interview, “Of course the success of a movie is important, and the box office is important, and the awards and accolades are important, but for me, as a person, the time I’ve had with people and the experiences I have on the set of a film are the most important.”

Deepika Padukone
Source: LinkedIn

As she prepares for motherhood, Deepika reflects on her career journey and expresses appreciation for her first film, Om Shanti Om, released in 2007. She shared sentiments of gratitude towards this pivotal movie that marked the beginning of her acting career and said, “When I think back, I think of myself as so young and naive and lost, but at the same time, I felt so protected, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better debut, because they protected me and they didn’t need to.

They made sure that I emoted well, that I said my dialogue well, and that I felt included and comfortable. And then when we started promoting the movie, they really propped me up and put me out there, and my life changed overnight.”

In addition, she has also represented India at respected award shows like the Oscars and BAFTAs; she even became a member of the Cannes Film Festival jury, and she was on the cover of the TIME magazine edition. Furthermore, she qualified as the first Indian to showcase the World Cup trophy. In her film career, she ventured into Hollywood with her debut in XXX: Xander Cage Returns in 2017.

When discussing her experience in Hollywood, Deepika shared with the magazine, “About a decade ago, when I started my journey in the West auditioning, it was a really new process for me because I’d never had to audition. I wasn’t a trained actor, and I never went to a fancy acting school, everything that I’ve learned has been on the job. The systems are so different between Hollywood and Bollywood.”

On top of that, she is also a mental health and wellness advocate. She is working day and night with the help of her foundation, Live, Love, Laugh , not only to abolish the stigma associated with mental health problems in India and other parts of the world but also to assume the value of respect and admiration from the people.

In her upcoming project, Deepika is set to appear in Singham Again, the third installment of Rohit Shetty's cop franchise. She takes on the role of Lady Singham, starring alongside a talented cast including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor. Additionally, Deepika is set to star in Kalki: 2829 AD alongside Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan, scheduled for release in June. 

Forging the only spot as the Indian celebrity on the Global Disruptors List, Deepika Padukone proclaims herself a global pioneer whose main goal is to eliminate certain norms and beliefs. Titled 'Racket to Rocket: Her Rise to Fame leaves us with no other option than to refer to her as the 'Indian Superstar’. This acknowledgement places Deepika, who is expecting her first child with her husband and actor Ranveer Singh, among an exclusive cohort of influential personalities who are actively reshaping the global entertainment landscape.

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