Deepika Padukone: Bollywood’s hot Actress of Tomorrow

Posted by Mehdi Hassan on August 11th, 2008 in Bollywood | 1 Comment

Deepika Padukone is the envy of every Bollywood actress. The super model turned actress got the opportunity to work with the top actor of Bollywood. Her first Hindi movie, Om Shanti Om, became the top grossing movie of Bollywood in 2007 and one of the all time top grossing movies of Bollywood. Now, Deepika Padukone is waiting for the release of her third movie, Bachna Ae Haseeno.

Deepika Padukone was born on January 5, 1986 to Prakash Padukone and Ujjala Padukone. Her father, Prakash Padukone, is the most famous badminton player in India. Her mother, Ujjala Padukone, is a travel agaent. In 1980, Prakash Padukone won the Danish and Swedish Open and the All-England titles and went to Copenhagen and there Deepika Padukone was born. When Deepika Padukone was 11 months old, her parents returned to India. Padukone attended Sophia High School in Bangalore and then went to studying Mount Carmel College. She sat for her ICSE exam from Sapphire High School.

In her school days, she used to play badminton and was a state level player. She was a member of her father’s club but she was not interested in following her father’s footsteps and took up modeling instead.

Modeling career:

While studying in college, Deepika Padukone became interested in modeling. Her tall slender figure was a big advantage in the profession. Gradually, she became successful as a model and endorsed many renowned Indian brands including Liril, Dabur Lal powder, Close-up toothpaste and Limca. Deepika Padukone was chosen as the brand ambassador of Maybelline which gave her first exposure as an international model. Deepika Padukone featured in the Kingfisher Calendar for 2006 and received two trophies at the Idea Zee Fashion Awards. Later, Deepika Padukone went on to become the brand ambassador of Kingfisher Airlines. Recently, she became the brand ambassador of Levi Strauss and Tissot SA.

Acting:

Deepika Padukone also appeared in a music video. She appeared in the music video of the song, Naam Hai Tera, by Himesh Reshammiya. Her debut movie was a Kannada movie, Aishwarya, where she worked with Upendra. In 2007, she made her first Bollywood movie, Om Shanti Om. In the movie, she was paired up with the most successful actor in Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. Deepika Padukone played double role in the movie. She played the character of Shantipriya, a female superstar of 1970 and then a young woman, who looks like Shantipriya. For her role in the movie, she received Film Fare Awards in Best Female Debut category and got her first nomination in the Film Fare Best Actress category.

Upcoming movies:

On August 15^th, Bachna Ae Haseeno, will be released. In this movie, Deepika Padukone played the character of Gayatri, an NRI girl. Her real life lover, Ranbir Kapoor played the male lead in the movie. Chandni Chowk to China, is in post-production stage now. In the movie, Deepika Padukone is doing double role. In this movie, she worked with Akshay Kumar.

Awards and nominations:

Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Sony Head N Shoulders Fresh Face of the Year Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Nominated for Filmfare Best Actress for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Star Screen Award in Most Promising Newcomer (female) category for Om Shanti Om.
Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 along with Shah Rukh Khan for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Nominated for Zee Cine Award Best Female Actor for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
IIFA Best Female Debutant Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Nominated for IIFA Best Female Actress Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Nominated for Stardust Female Superstar of Tomorrow award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards in Best Female Debut category for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Reebok Zoom Glam Best Newcomer Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Annual Central European Bollywood Awards in Female Breakthrough Role for Om Shanti Om in 2008.
Star’s Sabsey Favourite Kaun Award in Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine for Om Shanti Om in 2007.
HT Café Film Awards in best newcomer (female) category for Om Shanti Om in 2007.

Important facts about Deepika Padukone

Name: Deepika Padukone

Height: 5′ 9″

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Dark Brown

Bust: 34″

Waist: 27″

Hips: 36″

Shoes: 9 ½

First discovered by: Anila Anand in Bangalore

Hottest thing about Deepika Padukone: Her smile.

Father: Prakash Padukone

Mother: Ujjala Padukone

Astrological Sign: Capricorn

Languages: Hindi, English & Kannada.

Residence: Bandra in Mumbai. Deepika bought her own house in 2007. She moved to Pali Hill near Ranbir Kapoor’s bungalow.

Sister: Deepika Padukone has a younger sister named Anisha. She is now 18 years old and a big cricket fan. She loves to play golf and wants to be a professional golfer.

Hobbies: Music, eating, sleeping and watching movies.

Fetishes: Shoes and chocolates!

Acting Coach: Anupam Kher (Deepika Padukone attended Anupam Kher’s acting school).

Ideal man: Prakash Padukone, my father.

Role Model: Madhu Sapre.

Current boyfriend: Ranbir Kapoor

Manager: Piya

First car: 2006

Favorite actor: Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, and Amitabh Bachchan.

Favorite actress: Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen, and Madhuri Dixit.

Favorite Movies: Dil, Devdas

Favorite Book: Little Women & ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khalid Hosseini

Favorite Holiday Spot: The French Riviera

Favorite romantic getaway: South of France.

All-time favorite movie: Scent of A Woman.

All-time favorite music: Old Hindi music.

Favorite wish: Renovation of my house is completed ASAP

Favorite fantasy: Going out with my date on a full moon night sailing on a yacht.

Favorite bedroom line: Good Night.

Favorite song lyrics: Kabhi kabhi mere dil mai…

Model Deepika Padukone:

From her school days, Deepika Padukone started working as a model. She has been working as a model since she was eight years old. At that time, it was a part time job for her but she became interested and pursued modeling after finishing her high school.

Deepika Padukone got her first modeling assignment when she was in fifth standard. She did campaigns for ‘Westside’ which was known as ‘Little Woods’ at that time. She also did campaigns for BPL, Lipton and Weekenders. Every day, she went to the sets dressed up in lovely clothes and everybody pampered her on the sets, giving her chocolates. After the campaign, she became very famous in her school. At that time, she decided to become a model.

Deepika Padukone’s mother was very supportive of her. Back in her modeling days, Ujjala Padukone accompanied her on important shoots and they were the first one to give their consent for her ad campaigns and shows. She also had curfew hour till 12 midnight. Whatever money she earned as a model were kept by her parents. She did not even receive pocket money.

After Om Shanti Om, Deepika Padukone’s brand value went over Rs. 8 million.

Deepika Padukone earns half million rupees per month.

As a ramp model Deepika Padukone participated in many prestigious fashion shows and worked for many famous designers. Her major assignments include:

Wills India Fashion Week – 2006
Lakme India Fashion Week – 2005
Blenders Pride Circuit – 2004, 2005 & 2006
Tommy Hilfiger [Fashion Show, Delhi]
Tommy Hilfiger [Fashion Show, Ahmedabad]
Manish Malhotra
Rohit Bal
Vikram Phadnis
Provogue
Surily Goel
J.J Vallaya
Tarun Tahiliani
Abu- Sandeep
Deepika Govind
Rocky S
Wendell Rodricks

Brand Ambassador:

Chemistry Apparels
Limca
Levi Strauss Signature Brand 2007/2008
Tissot Brand Ambassador 2007/2008
LG Viewty Electronics 2007/08
Brand Ambassador for KingFisher Airlines
International Brand Ambassador for Maybelline New York
Fiama Di Wills Soap Brand 2008

As a model, Deepika Padukone endorsed wide range of products:

Face of P.C Chandra Jewellers- 2005 & 2006
Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar 2006
Face of Liril ‘oof yu ma’
Face of “Loreal’s” new hair colour brand ‘Matrix’
Close- up
Maybeline New York
Maruti Alto
Seematti Silks
Deepam Sarees
RMKV Silks
Naidu Hall
Tropicana
Big Bazaar
Motorola
Femina
Mico
Parachute
Pepsi 2008

Deepika Padukone’s advice to aspiring models:

Do not make modeling a full time job unless you get lot of work. Till then, pursue it as a hobby.

Actress Deepika Padukone:

Deepika Padukone attended the acting school of Anupam Kher. She studied there for three months.

As an actress, Deepika Padukone does not like item songs and exposing. She prefers working hard for her success. Interestingly, when asked about whether she would wear a bikini in her movie she replied that she does not mind wearing a bikini because can carry one off.

Deepika Padukone fashion, make-up, skin care:

Deepika Padukone prefers western-formal-dress and Indian sari for formal wear but for day-to-day, she likes jeans and t-shirt and salwar.

Favorite accessory: Rings and earrings.

Favorite Fashion Designer: Manish Malhotra and Tarun Tahiliani

Favorite Fashion Choreographer: Alison Kanuga

Favorite Fashion Photographer: Atul Kasbekar

Favorite outfit: Saree.

Favorite Perfume: Escada

Favorite fragrance: Femina by Alberta Ferretti.

Favorite color: white

Favorite hairstyle: Long back.

Deepika Padukone’s fashion tips: Wear your personality, do not follow trends.

Skin care: Deepika Padukone does not have any regular routine but every day, before going to bed, she removes her make up.

Hair care: Deepika Padukone attends lots of Parachute oil to her hair.

Deepika Padukone’s style mantra: Comfort.

As a fashion police Deepika Padukone would ban short skirts and ankle length boots.

Deepika Padukone food, health and fitness:

Deepika Padukone eats vegetarian and non- vegetarian foods. She also likes sea food and Manglorean preparations.

Fitness Consultant: Lisa John

Favorite Cuisine: Thai and South Indian food.

Favorite spice: Chilly.

Favorite Drink: Lemon water and coconut water.

Favorite restaurant: Dome and The Taj Lands End in Mumbai and many other restaurants in Bombay and Bangalore.

Favorite kitchen appliance: Microwave.

Favorite stress buster: Participating in any sports.

Favorite beverage: South Indian filter coffee.

Favorite Dishes: Fish curry, koli roti, prawn curry and fish fry.

Deepika Padukone’s fitness tips: Follow a healthy combination of balanced meal and workouts.

Deepika Padukone’s idea of a romantic meal is candle light dinner with French food on the French Riviera by the beach.

Deepika Padukone Trivia:

Deepika Padukone is a right handed girl.
Deepika is now pursuing her graduation in social science through correspondence.
A spiritual girl, Deepika Padukone believes in prayer. She does not smoke or drink. She likes to stay at home and have ‘get togethers’ with her friends at home playing board games!
Deepika Padukone’s mother Ujjala Padukone used to work in Air India. She then worked in a travel agency and now, she has her own travel agency.
Deepika Padukone’s father, Prakash Padukone, is a nine time National Indian Badminton champion. He remained the top player of India from 1971 to 1980.
Majority of Prakash Padukone’s fans are Indonesian and Chinese.
Prakash Padukone came from an orthodox Hindu family. Still, he did not mind his daughter pursuing a career in modeling.
As a student, Deepika Padukone was above average but she did not give much effort in her studies. Like her father, she wanted to become a sports person.
Deepika Padukone was a prankster in her school days. Either on a Monday and Friday she would skip school saying her teacher that she was having a stomach ache. She then called up her mother to take her home.
Deepika Padukone never bunked class but she loved long weekends.
Deepika Padukone was a state-level badminton player till 10^th standard and after that she stopped playing for three months for her ICSE exam. Then she came into modeling.
Along with badminton, Deepika Padukone played basketball, tennis and baseball. She even did kick boxing.
During her school years, Deepika Padukone was more interested in extra-curricular activities like music, dance, sports.
In her school years, Deepika Padukone was a tom-boy type of girl. She used to talk loudly all the time.
Deepika Padukone had a great relationship with her grand parents. Everyday, she would get up to see how her maternal grandmother used to churn butter milk.