Deepika Padukone Breaks Hollywood Stereotypes: “I Wanted To Represent India My Way”

Deepika Padukone, one of India’s most celebrated actors, has shared insight into her journey of carving a distinct space in Hollywood—on her own terms. Speaking at CNBC TV’s Global Leadership Summit in New Delhi on Friday alongside designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the 38-year-old star discussed the intentional choices behind her international career and her mission to project a modern, authentic India to the world.

Padukone revealed that her decisions in Hollywood were guided by a strong desire to challenge the stereotypes that often shape Western narratives about India. From facing casting biases to hearing remarks about her accent and skin tone, she said she was determined to break those molds. “I was very clear about taking India to the world, but the India that I know,” she said, emphasizing that she refused to fit into preconceived expectations of global audiences, even if it meant a slower journey.

The actor first made her Hollywood debut in 2017 with XXX: Return of Xander Cage alongside Vin Diesel. Since then, she has become a global presence—serving on the Cannes Film Festival jury, unveiling trophies at the FIFA World Cup final, and representing luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Recalling her Louis Vuitton campaign displayed across Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard, Padukone said it felt like “a victory for every Indian woman” to see a brown face representing a global luxury brand.

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Padukone also reflected on her evolution as the new voice of Meta AI, noting the irony in how her voice—once criticized early in her career—is now powering one of the biggest tech platforms. “It’s interesting that the same voice people mocked is now the voice of Meta AI. I owned it—and that’s why it worked,” she said.

On the topic of artificial intelligence in cinema, Padukone expressed both curiosity and caution. While she is optimistic about the possibilities of AI, she believes human emotion remains irreplaceable. “You can’t infuse soul into AI,” she said, describing herself as an “old soul” who embraces innovation but sees emotional authenticity as the defining human trait.The actor is now gearing up for her upcoming films—King, opposite Shah Rukh Khan, and an untitled project with filmmaker Atlee featuring Allu Arjun.

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