10 Lesser Known Facts About Bollywood Superstar Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone is one of few Bollywood actresses who has achieved a brilliant career in a relatively short period. After her impressive Bollywood debut alongside Shahrukh Khan in 2007 Om Shanti Om, the promising starlet has won our hearts and never looked back since then.

Currently, despite the age of 33, Deepika has still been on the way to conquer Bollywood with her outstanding performances and charming looks. Today, let's explore her fascinating secrets to have a better understanding and take a step closer to this talented and glamorous Bollywood actress.

1. Being a national level badminton player turned model before pursuing the acting career

Did you know that Deepika was born in Copenhagen, Denmark? However, her family subsequently relocated to Bangalore when she was merely 11-month little munchkin. She is the badminton player Prakash Padukone’s daughter.

As a teenager, she once played badminton in state-level championships. However, the little girl left her sports career to pursue a dream of a fashion model since 2004. Subsequently, at the age of 19, Deepika became a winner of Model of the Year award at the Kingfisher Fashion Awards in 2005.

2. 2007 Bollywood movie Om Shanti Om isn't Deepika's debut

Surprisingly, Deepika didn’t start her acting career with Bollywood movie but a Kannada one, Indrajith Lankesh’s Aishwarya in 2006, opposite the Kannada producer-actor Upendra.

3. Marking Hollywood debut in 2017 with the action film xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Deepika had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to co-star Hollywood actor Vin Diesel in her initial Hollywood project, xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017). It turned out to be a box-office success as raking in over US$345 million globally.

4. A whirlwind two-year romance with Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone supposedly started their relationship in 2007 during filming Bachana Ae Haseeno. Deepika even got Ranbir Kapoor tattoo on the nape of her neck. However, their whirlwind romance merely lasted for nearly two years and quickly came to an end in 2009. Ranbir’s unfaithfulness was supposedly the reason for their break-up.

5. Life-changing movie in Deepika’s life

Deepika once held a stereotype in her mind of how an actress should be, how she should dress and look. It was the point of life when she was facing a hard phase in her life. However, the role of Veronica Malaney in Homi Adajania's 2012 Cocktail came to her at that time and changed numerous viewpoints in her. It was that portrayal, which is different from her personality, helped her become a different and more authentic female.

6. Being the highest-paid actresses in India 

In 2018’s Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, Deepika is the unique female actress among the top 10 earners, ranking fourth with Rs 112.8 crore ($15.9 million). Previously, Deepika was once paid USD 460,000 for two working days in 2014 Tamil flick Kochadaiiyaan, the first movie with the motion capture technology in India.

7. An undeniable diva of the 100-crore club

Deepika is the initial actress owning four 100-crore hits in succession. In 2013, her four consecutive blockbusters, including Race 2, Chennai Express, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, garnered 100 crores at the box-office.

8. Being a highly traditional individual in real life

Facing the question of how Deepika is in real life, the 33-year-old actress stated:

9. Being a genuine foodie

10. Hindustan Times’ freelance author

Deepika once worked as an author of the lifestyle section in Hindustan Times’ weekly column.