Deepika Padukone Reveals She Knew She Wanted to Act at 16

Mumbai, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : Bollywood star Deepika Padukone recently opened up about her early ambitions in acting, revealing that she realized she wanted to be an actress at just 16 years old.

Now one of the most respected actresses in the Indian film industry, Deepika made her Hollywood debut in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” where she also appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” During her conversation with Ellen, she shared insights about her father, Prakash Padukone, a former badminton champion.

Deepika reflected on her father’s career, noting that he played badminton at a time when few pursued it professionally. While many aspired to be doctors or lawyers, he chose the path of an athlete. When asked if she ever considered following in his footsteps, Deepika admitted that while it could have pleased him, he always encouraged her to follow her own heart.

Expressing her passion for acting, she emphasized that the joy of being in front of the camera became clear to her at a young age. Deepika also recounted a moment when she borrowed 10,000 rupees from her mother for a portfolio shoot, promising to repay her and make her proud.

Since her debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in “Om Shanti Om” in 2007, Deepika has starred in numerous hit films, including “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,” “Chennai Express,” “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela,” “Piku,” “Bajirao Mastani,” “Padmaavat,” “Chhapaak,” “Pathaan,” and “Jawan.” She is set to appear alongside Shah Rukh Khan again in the highly anticipated film “King.”