It's true that in these four years, Deepika Padukone didn't replicate the success of Om Shanti Om, but this didn’t affect her stardom. The reason for this was that she didn’t enter the film industry by chance or coincidence. Despite her natural talent and intellect, she climbed the ladder step by step, preparing for the long haul.
After moving from her hometown Bangalore to Mumbai, she was never idle. Living with her aunt, she didn’t enter films like a star kid. She had already reached the pinnacle of modeling. Why would she need her father’s name or stature when she had already made her own mark and established an identity?
This sharp-minded student from Bangalore’s Sophia School, who later attended Mount Carmel College, entered the world of glamour before she even turned seventeen. She couldn’t even find time to pursue a BA degree but, driven by her ambition to shape a well-rounded personality, she enrolled at Delhi's Indira Gandhi National Open University, hoping to study sociology. However, due to her various successes, she couldn’t find time to complete this course and had to drop it.
The reason for this busyness was simple: there were only 24 hours in a day. What could a person do in just 24 hours? Should she learn acting at Anupam Kher’s acting school, master dance at Shiamak Davar’s academy, or train in the Japanese martial art Jujutsu like some prominent actors, in order to perform her stunts herself for the film Chandni Chowk to China? She did it all.
At five feet eight and a half inches tall, Deepika, a skilled badminton and baseball player, constantly received modeling offers from prestigious brands like L’Oréal Paris, Tissot, Nescafé, Sony Cybershot, Mantra, Maybelline, Coca-Cola, Eye Near, and Vogue.
Not only that, but her intellectual abilities made it difficult for her to turn down the freelance writing offer from HT City. On the other hand, despite being highly ambitious about her career, Deepika was so homesick that even while living with her aunt in Mumbai and calling Om Shanti Om producer Farah Khan her second mother, she never missed an opportunity to visit her home in Bangalore.
Although her father had retired from active sports, her mother had forgotten her travel agency business, and her younger sister was fully immersed in golf, Deepika always cherished spending time with them. Despite her hectic schedule, she would somehow find time to visit home, and her attachment to her father was so deep that she didn’t forget to contribute to her father’s Olympic Gold Quest work. This quest was dedicated to supporting and nurturing Indian athletes for the Olympic Games, and its results were beginning to show. Four out of the six Indian Olympic medalists were players supported by OGQ.
Five years after her first major success, her film Cocktail was released. This film was produced by Saif Ali Khan and directed by Homi Adajania. The film was well-received and proved to be a box office hit. Interestingly, this film made more money abroad than in India. It was a light comedy but became a hit due to its tight direction and excellent performances by the cast, including Saif, Deepika, Boman Irani, Diana Penty, Randeep Hooda, and Dimple Kapadia.
This film broke new ground not only for Deepika but also for Saif. It helped her overcome her supposed depression, which arose from her concerns about her future. Once again, she was in the spotlight. She was nominated for the Best Actress Female category at the Filmfare Awards for this film. Although she missed out on the award once again, it was undoubtedly an achievement for her to have showcased her acting skills even in a simple comedy film.
From the beginning, it was evident that Deepika Padukone wasn’t just one of those artists who entered the film industry for wealth, glamour, and fame. She always showed a unique passion for her society. Her interest in studying sociology, her involvement in national sports and youth issues with her father, and her participation in the Greenathon campaign for societal betterment in Maharashtra were not just surface-level interests but were deeply rooted in her values. She even adopted a place called Ambe village as part of the Greenathon initiative.
This highlights her genuine social concerns. Although she had never committed to social service on any beauty contest platform, her core values certainly leaned in this direction. As a native Konkani speaker and someone born in the Konkan region, she must have harbored a deep respect and affection for the nearby state of Maharashtra. Karnataka was her birthplace, but Maharashtra had become her “Karmabhumi” (place of action).
This year, another significant success was recorded in the eyes of her well-wishers: People Magazine named her the most beautiful woman of the year 2012. This title may have caused some envy among other beauty queens, such as Miss Universe, Miss World, or Miss India winners. But since most of them had already become film stars, how could there be jealousy among people from the same profession?
Soft-spoken, friendly, and humble, Deepika maintained cordial relations with everyone. She remained a blend of success, beauty, and simplicity.
