Deepika Padukone's phenomenal rise from top model to Cannes festival juror and global star

The Bollywood actress and new Louis Vuitton ambassador is one of the most influential stars in India today

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has been named as a brand ambassador for luxury jewellers Cartier. AFP

Padukone was also named the first Louis Vuitton ambassador from India in May, and starred in the brand's latest campaign for Dauphine leather goods. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Padukone earlier starred in Louis Vuitton's pre-autumn 2020 campaign. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Padukone in 2007. The Bollywood actress and one of India's biggest stars began her career as a child model. EPA

Padukone in Dubai in 2008. She made her Bollywood debut with the 2007 film 'Om Shanti Om', appearing alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Padukone at the UK premiere of 'Chandni Chowk To China' at the Empire Cinema on January 12, 2009 in London. Getty

Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. EPA

Padukone walks for designer Wendell Rodricks in New Delhi in 2011. Getty

Padukone reunited with Shah Rukh Khan in the 2013 film 'Chennai Express', which was a massive hit. Getty

Khan and Padukone promote 'Chennai Express' in Mumbai in 2013. EPA

Ranbir Kapoor and Padukone promote their 2013 film 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. The pair dated for a year after starting their relationship in 2008. AFP

Padukone in Dubai in 2013 to promote her film 'Race 2'. Sarah Dea / The National

Padukone at the BIG Star Entertainment Awards in Mumbai in 2013. AFP

Padukone performs at an event at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi in 2014. Ravindranath K / The National

Padukone at the premiere of her film 'Happy New Year' at Dubai's Atlantis, The Palm, in 2014. Antonie Robertson / The National

Kapoor and Padukone reunited for the 2015 film 'Tamasha'. They're seen here with director Imtiaz Ali. Getty

Padukone arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2016 at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Netherlands, in November 2016. EPA

Padukone at the International Indian Film Academy or IIFA Awards in Madrid, in June 2016. EPA

Padukone at the screening of 'Ismael's Ghosts (Les Fantomes d'Ismael)' at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Getty

Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. EPA

Vin Diesel and Padukone promoting their film 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' in 2017. EPA

Padukone married actor Ranveer Singh at a private ceremony in Italy in November 2018.

Fans and photographers greeted the newlyweds at Mumbai International Airport early on November 18, 2018. AFP

Ranveer Singh and Padukone held a reception in Mumbai following their Italian wedding in 2018. Getty Images

The couple also hosted a reception party in Bengaluru at the Leela Palace hotel in 2018. AP

Padukone attending the Met Gala in New York City in 2018. EPA

Padukone was named one of 'Time' magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. EPA

Padukone at the IIFA Awards in Mumbai in 2019. AFP

Padukone at the 2019 Met Gala in New York City. AFP

Padukone attends the Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards in Mumbai on February 12, 2019. AFP

Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. AFP

Padukone wears Dior at the Christian Dior spring/summer 2020 show in Paris on September 24, 2019. Getty

Padukone visits students protesting at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi in 2020. AFP

Padukone received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020 for her work in raising awareness of mental health. AP

From left, Red Sea International Film Festival chairman Mohammed Al Turki, Ranveer Singh and Padukone in Jeddah in December 2021. AFP

Ranveer Singh and Padukone promote their film '83' in Dubai. Photo: Reliance Entertainment

Padukone and Ranveer Singh at a press conference in Dubai in December 2021, to promote their film '83'. Pawan Singh / The National

Ranveer Singh and Padukone at the premiere of the movie '83' in Mumbai in December 2021. AFP

Siddhant Chaturwedi and Padukone promoting their film 'Gehraiyaan' in Mumbai in February 2022. AFP

The Bollywood star attends an event for the Hindi romantic drama film 'Gehraiyaan' in Mumbai on February 20, 2022. AFP

Padukone on the red carpet at the Time 100 Impact Awards in Dubai in March 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Padukone at the Louis Vuitton 2023 cruise show in San Diego, California, in May 2022. AFP

After naming Bollywood star Deepika Padukone as one of its 100 "most influential people in the world" in 2018, Time magazine this year honoured the actress again at their inaugural Time100 Impact Awards. The event, held in Dubai in March, recognised those who have made a significant impact on their industries and the world at large.

It's a testament to Padukone's stunning rise in the film industry, and how she's using her name as a force for good, particularly in her work for mental health issues.

That storied French label Louis Vuitton would name her an ambassador, the first from India, only days before she attends the Cannes Film Festival as a member of the jury, is just added bonus to the career of this former sportswoman and model Vogue India calls "the most influential actor in the Indian film industry right now".

“Padukone has been touted as one of Indian cinema’s most loved and successful actresses to date, and her achievements have made her an icon of recent times," Louis Vuitton said when announcing their collaboration last week.

An early start

Deepika Padukone promoting a mobile phone brand in 2007. EPA

The daughter of Indian badminton star Prakash Padukone and his wife Ujjala, Padukone decided at a young age that she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps, and began to play competitively while still in high school in Bangalore. During this time, she was also taking on the odd modelling assignment, having started as a child model at the age of 8.

By the time she turned 18, she had bagged her first major advertising campaign, something that would spur her to drop out of school, ditch badminton and pursue modelling full time.

"I realised that I was playing the game only because it ran in the family. So, I asked my father if I could give up the game and he wasn't upset at all," she told The Times of India in 2004. "He has always told my sister and I to do what we are wholeheartedly interested in and to do it well."

Padukone's younger sister Anisha is a professional golfer.

In 2006, Padukone appeared in the annual Kingfisher Calendar, then known for launching some of India's top models. And by the time she was 21, she'd moved to the entertainment capital of Mumbai, the home of Bollywood.

A star is born

During her first year in Mumbai working the modelling circuit, Padukone was cast in a music video for singer Himesh Reshammiya’s song Naam Hain Tera. Filmmaker Farah Khan, who was then looking for a fresh face to cast in her next film, spotted Padukone in the video and invited her for an audition.

The 2007 fantasy musical, Om Shanti Om, starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Padukone, would become a critical and commercial hit, turning her into a star overnight.

Padukone next appeared in 2008's Bachna Ae Haseeno, alongside then up-and-coming actor Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she was in a relationship for about two years. Yet, despite her high-profile Bollywood debut and a few big-budget films, including 2009's Chandni Chowk to China and 2010 Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, major success eluded her.

It was 2012's Cocktail that would prove a turning point for Padukone, who won acclaim for her performance in the romantic comedy. Her role as a party girl headed down a path of self-destruction was lauded by critics and the film was a major box office success.

Padukone then followed it up with major hits such as 2013's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Chennai Express, in which she reunited with her Om Shanti Om co-star Khan.

Later that year, Padukone appeared along with her future husband Ranveer Singh in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, which was another commercial success. The pair's crackling chemistry would inspire director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to cast them in two more films, Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018), both major box office successes.

Padukone has also proven her versatility in films such as 2015's Piku, a dysfunctional but heartwarming father-daughter story, in which she starred with veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and the late Irrfan Khan. In 2020, she played acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal in Chhapaak, in a retelling of her tragic and ultimately hopeful story. This year, Padukone won rave reviews for her role in Gehraiyaan, which explores complicated relationships seen through the lens of familial trauma.

In 2017, Padukone made her Hollywood debut, starring in Vin Diesel's xXx: Return of Xander Cage. In his profile of her for Time's 100 most influential people list, Diesel writes that he had wanted to cast Padukone in the Fast & Furious films, but her schedule did not permit it.

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone promoting 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' in 2017. EPA

"When Deepika Padukone came in to read for one of the Fast and the Furious films, I knew instantly I was in the presence of someone very special. As soon as she entered the room, there was a synchronicity, a synergy, a chemistry — it promised great things to come," he said. "She was the first role we cast in xXx: Return of Xander Cage. She said, 'I want to do this movie, but if I do, you have to come to India.' Thank God I made that deal."

Scroll through the gallery below for some of Deepika Padukone's most memorable roles:

Deepika Padukone made her Bollywood debut alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the romantic comedy 'Om Shanti Om' (2007). Photo: Studios

In 2008, she starred in 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' with Ranbir Kapoor, who she would go on to date. Photo: Yash Raj Films

'Love Aaj Kal', which also starred Saif Ali Khan, was a critical and commercial success for Padukone in 2009. Photo: Studios

Padukone and Diana Penty in 'Cocktail' (2012). Padukone was lauded for her performance in the film, which also featured Saif Ali Khan. Photo: Studios

Padukone reunited with Ranbir Kapoor in the 2013 hit 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. Photo: Studios

The Rohit Shetty comedy 'Chennai Express', which reunited the winning pair of Shah Rukh Khan and Padukone, was a box-office success. Photo: UTV Motion Pictures

In the 2013 film hit 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela', Padukone appeared alongside her future husband Ranveer Singh. Photo: Eros International

The multi-starrer 'Happy New Year' in 2014 was a box-office success despite being mauled by critics. The comedy was extensively shot in Dubai. Photo: Red Chillies Entertainments

Padukone displayed her versatility in 2015's 'Piku', starring the late Irrfan Khan and veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. Photo: MSM Motion Pictures

Priyanka Chopra and Padukone in the 2015 film 'Bajirao Mastani'. The period drama also featured Ranveer Singh. Photo: Eros International

Padukone made her Hollywood debut alongside Vin Diesel in the 2017 film 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'. Photo: Paramount Pictures

Padukone in the 2018 film 'Padmaavat'. Photo: Studios

Padukone and Vikrant Massey in 'Chhapaak' (2020). The film, which Padukone produced, tells the inspiring story of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. Photo: Fox Star Studios

Padukone and Ananya Panday in 'Gehraiyaan' (2022). The film, as well as Padukone's performance, received rave reviews. Photo: Amazon Studios

Activism beyond the movies

Padukone is one of the few stars whose social activism goes beyond only lip service — something that's earned her praise and respect. Diagnosed with clinical depression in 2014, she's spoken extensively about her experience and in 2015 launched The Live Love Laugh Foundation, which works to destigmatise mental health issues and raise awareness. It also runs a free counselling service and trains primary care physicians to better identify and treat mental health conditions.

Padukone's sister Anisha serves as the chief executive of the foundation.

“I had such a deep experience with mental illness. Not talking about it felt dishonest,” Padukone told Time magazine.

In 2020, the World Economic Forum honoured Padukone with the Crystal Award for her work in spreading awareness about mental health.

"Depression is a common medical illness. It is important to understand that anxiety and depression are like any other illness and are treatable. Acceptance is the first step to recovery," she said, while receiving the award.

How much is Deepika Padukone worth?

Bollywood star and India's first Louis Vuitton ambassador Deepika Padukone in the brand's latest campaign for Dauphine leather goods. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Padukone's list of endorsements is almost endless, including top global brands Tissot, Maybelline, Coca-Cola and L'Oreal Paris. In 2019, she was second in India on the most powerful celebrity brand list of Duff & Phelps, the global valuation and corporate finance advisors, with an estimated brand value of $102.5 million, coming only behind former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, whose brand value is estimated at $170.9m.

According to Forbes India, Padukone is also one of the biggest celebrity investors, placing her bets on several start-ups, including Bellatrix Aerospace, BluSmart, FrontRow and Atomberg Technologies. She has also appeared in advertisements for Epigamia, for a line of chocolate and ghee spreads she co-­created for the brand. Padukone is also a ­strategic investor in Drums Food International, the makers of Epigamia, through her company Ka Enterprises.

Meanwhile, she's been busy behind the camera, too, as her company Ka Productions produced two hits — Chhapaak (2020) and 83, the cricket film starring her husband Singh in the lead, which had its world premiere at Jeddah's inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival — last year.

The decision to turn producer was not financially driven, she told Deccan Chronicle in 2019.

“The only bone in me that is number-driven is when it comes to being conservative in spending money. But I have not turned producer to make more money,” she said. “The reason is to have a more creative involvement or creatively enable a film.”

That said, the productions, acting fees, brand endorsements, business ventures, properties and investments, as well as an enviable collection of luxury cars that reportedly includes a Mercedes-Maybach S500, all adds up to a pretty penny that's been estimated at about $40m, according to various reports.

If her recent success is anything to go by, that figure is only set to get bigger in the years to come.

Deepika Padukone's style evolution — in pictures:

Deepika Padukone, in a simple black mini dress, in New Delhi on December 24, 2007. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing lashings of tulle, arrives at the premiere of 'Chandni Chowk To China' in London on January 12, 2009. Getty Images

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, in flowing blue, attend the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Bangkok on June 8, 2008. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing tailored separates, in Mumbai on February 10, 2009. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in a strapless black gown, at the Femina Miss India Contest on April 5, 2009 in Mumbai. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone wearing a vibrant printed shirt dress in Mumbai on April 29, 2010. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone, in gilded Rohit Bal, arrives for the screening of 'Tournee' at Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2010. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in an icy blue metallic gown, at the Zee Cine Awards in Singapore on January 14, 2011. EPA

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, in a contrasting jumpsuit, attend the release of their upcoming movie 'Chennai Express' in Mumbai on July 3, 2013. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in a mustard Gauri and Nainika gown, arrives for the opening ceremony of the Marrakech International Film Festival on November 29, 2013. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in a bright blue mini dress, in London on October 5, 2014. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone, in a sequinned sari, arrives for the Indian International Film Academy Awards in Kuala Lumpur on June 7, 2015. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing a LBD, attends the IIFA Rocks Awards on June 24, 2016 in Madrid. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone, in a lace cape, skirt and crop top by Sabyasachi, arrives at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Madrid on June 26, 2016. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in a Monisha Jaising two-piece, arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Rotterdam on November 6, 2016. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in Stella McCartney, attends the European premiere of 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' in London on January 10, 2017. Getty Images

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone, in beaded Sabyasachi, during a promotional event for 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' in Mumbai on January 12, 2017. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in a minimalist white gown, attends a red carpet for 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' in Beijing on February 9, 2017. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone, wearing sheer Marchesa, at the screening of 'Ismael's Ghosts' at Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2017. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone, in a one-shouldered Brandon Maxwell dress, arrives for the screening of 'Nelyubov' at Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing embellished Anamika Khanna, arrives for the Time 100 Gala in New York on April 24, 2018. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in scarlet Prabal Gurung, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA

Deepika Padukone, in sheer Zuhair Murad, arrives for the screening of 'Sorry Angel' at Cannes Film Festival on May 10, 2018. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing a voluminous Ashi Studio gown, arrives for the screening of 'Ash Is Purest White' at annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2018. EPA

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone at their wedding reception in Mumbai on November 28, 2018. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing a gold sari by Angadi Galleria, at her wedding reception with Ranveer Singh in Bangalore on November 21, 2018. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing reams of green tulle by Giambattista Valli, arrives for the screening of 'Dolor y Gloria' at Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2019. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing a dramatic Dundas gown, arrives for the screening of 'Rocketman' at Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2019. EPA

Deepika Padukone, wearing a Dior maxi dress and coat, attends the Christian Dior spring / summer 2020 show at Paris Fashion Week on September 24, 2019. Getty Images

Deepika Padukone wows in a Gauri and Nainika black gown with plunging neckline at the premiere of the movie '83' in Mumbai on December 22, 2021. AFP

Deepika Padukone rocks a full denim outfit during the promotion of 'Gehraiyaan' in Mumbai on February 8, 2022. AFP

Deepika Padukone stood out on the Red Sea Film Festival red carpet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, wearing a gown by Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco and earrings by Chopard on December 15, 2021. Red Sea Film Festival / AFP

Deepika Padukone shimmers in a saree on the red carpet of the TIME 100 Gala and Impact Awards in Dubai on March 28, 2022. Victor Besa / The National