Deepika Padukone

Deepika Prakash Padukone is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. Born on January 5, 1986, she has established herself as one of the country's most prominent film personalities. Over her career, she has received three Filmfare Awards, including one for Best Female Debut and two for Best Actress. In 2018, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and the publication subsequently presented her with the Time100 Impact Award in 2022.

Padukone was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Konkani-speaking parents, and her family relocated to Bangalore, India, when she was one year old. Her father, Prakash Padukone, was a professional badminton player, and her mother, Ujjala, worked as a travel agent. Padukone actively played competitive badminton in national championships during her youth and also competed in state-level baseball tournaments. She attended Sophia High School and Mount Carmel College in Bangalore before enrolling at the Indira Gandhi National Open University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, which she later left due to modeling commitments.

Having modeled in child advertising campaigns from the age of eight, Padukone chose to pursue fashion modeling full-time in high school. She built her early profile through ad campaigns, runway shows, and a prominent music video, winning Model of the Year at the Kingfisher Fashion Awards. She made her acting debut in the 2006 Kannada romantic comedy Aishwarya, which achieved commercial success. The following year, she entered Hindi cinema opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the blockbuster romance Om Shanti Om, playing a dual role that earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

After experiencing mixed critical and commercial results with films like Bachna Ae Haseeno, Love Aaj Kal, Housefull, and Aarakshan, Padukone reached a career turning point with the 2012 romantic comedy Cocktail. Her performance was widely praised and earned several major award nominations. She further consolidated her success in 2013 by starring in four top-grossing films: Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, the latter of which won her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Padukone achieved further critical and commercial success with the heist comedy Happy New Year, the comedy-drama Piku—earning her a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress—and the historical dramas Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. She also featured in the Hollywood action film XXX: Return of Xander Cage. Following a short hiatus during which she established her own company, Ka Productions, she starred in major action blockbusters such as Pathaan, Fighter, and Kalki 2898 AD.

In addition to her film career, Padukone founded The Live Love Laugh Foundation to promote mental health awareness in India, an effort recognized with the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award in 2018. Her external ventures include startup investments, a self-care brand, and a women's clothing line, alongside walking the Met Gala red carpet three times. She is married to her recurring co-star Ranveer Singh, with whom she has a daughter.