Daughter of badminton champion Prakash Padukone, Deepika Padukone grew up in Bangalore, modelled as a teenager, and made a splashy Hindi debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. Early hits gave way to a remarkable 2013 — four consecutive successes including Chennai Express and Ram-Leela — that established her as the leading actress of her generation.

Her range spans the headstrong royal of Bajirao Mastani, the fierce Rani Padmavati of Padmaavat, and an acid-attack survivor in Chhapaak, which she also produced. Openly discussing her experience with depression, she founded the Live Love Laugh Foundation for mental-health awareness, work that contributed to her Time 100 recognition and a Time100 Impact Award. Married to actor Ranveer Singh, she recently appeared in the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD and the action hit Singham Again.

Filmography Highlights

• Om Shanti Om (2007) — Blockbuster reincarnation drama and star-making debut
• Cocktail (2012) — Career-turning performance as the free-spirited Veronica
• Chennai Express (2013) — Smash-hit comedy opposite Shah Rukh Khan
• Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) — Fiery Juliet in Bhansali's Gujarat-set tragedy
• Piku (2015) — Warm slice-of-life comedy that won her Filmfare Best Actress
• Bajirao Mastani (2015) — Warrior princess Mastani in an epic romance
• Padmaavat (2018) — Title role in Bhansali's grand period spectacle
• Chhapaak (2020) — Acid-attack survivor drama she headlined and produced

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.