You don't often hear parents telling their children that actors and actresses make for a great role model. I mean in the time I was growing up, we were actually mocked with a jovial "Hero/heroine mat bano!" Maybe they had a point; in the world of Bollywood, with its superficiality, ostentation and plasticity, you don't find a lot of people you would want to look up to anyway maybe. But then there are a few who not only inspire awe and appreciation but make you want to be a better version of yourself.
Deepika Padukone. It is like the name was tailor made to stand out in a crowd of names; perfectly in sync not just with her talent but with the personality too.
Much has been said about the actress and her acting prowess; It's almost redundant at this to mention how phenomenal she is. Coming from a non-acting background, she made her way through to the top; beginning from her debut movie where her voice was dubbed throughout the film to delivering some defining movies of our time - the journey (which continues) is praiseworthy. Her screen presence is magnetic. Coming fresh off her third movie with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, she won not just hearts but the long drawn out stand-off with volatile fringe groups - one to remember.
But enough and more has been said about her acting skills. Not only is Deepika Padukone compelling on screen, she's compelling off it too. And there's something else about her - unlike several other stars, she's relatable.
One simply has to hear her talk in interviews, chat shows, and conversations to know she is so... us. Just like any other person who could be our neighbour, our friend, the girl next door - only her simplicity as a human being, humility, honesty, and warmth make us want to have her as our neighbour, friend, and the girl next door to us.
At press meets, she will talk to reporters with respect. If you cross a line, she won't shy away from standing up for herself and getting her point across. The "cleavage row" with a leading daily, in which Deepika called the publication out for running offensive pictures of her, springs to mind. The actress drew a lot of support. I remember a tweet along the lines of "They think Deepika Padukone has cleavage/I think she has got a spine." That, my friends, sums it up.
In the industry, she is loved and respected for being gritty. You will rarely hear her run any of her contemporaries down - which you'll rarely hear any Bollywood star do, practiced as they are in the art of diplomacy. But what sets Deepika apart is the grace with which she responds when others are less than cordial about her. Like when Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, actresses Deepika has something of a history with, snubbed her on Koffee With Karan - Deepika's response was this sporting tweet:
these girls were on fire!what a fun episode... https://t.co/BmWqWE4fXT
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) December 27, 2016
On the other hand, when asked on a chat show if Katrina would make it to her wedding guest list, Deepika reportedly responded with a simple "no" with a smile. She doesn't hold back from calling a spade a spade, never has.
When asked about how much money she was getting for her movies, she was humble enough to not advertise it but didn't shy away from adding that she was paid more than Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh for "Padmaavat."
Deepika finds a balance between the private and the professional. Never talking about her romantic life out and out, but she has never shied away from showing her love, critiquing, and supporting her rumoured beau, Ranveer Singh. Oh, and she is friends with her ex Ranbir Kapoor (with the tattoo still intact, albeit altered). Brownie points for that.
And speaking of strength - as a top rated actress, I am sure it took a lot for Deepika to come out and talk about her battle with depression. At the peak of her career, it could have messed things up for her - in fact, she was accused by several quarters of seeking publicity - but that didn't discourage her from talking about something which needed talking about. She has broken down on national television, has shared vividly her experiences she faced when she was depressed, has talked about being anxious and insecure. That is a lot of unabashed soul-baring for the world for an actress who operates in circles where appearances are everything. And she didn't stop there, she is doing her bit to help people find a way to fight mental illnesses, what with starting The Live Love Laugh Foundation.
In this world, where everything is always transitioning and people are always looking for the real deal, the true stuff, the wearing-their-heart-on-the-sleeves kinda people to have in their lives...maybe we should all imbibe some of the qualities Deepika Padukone makes her own.
Making her way through the crowd of lovers, haters, critics, friends, foes, family, and love. She channels her energy outwards, and comes out unscathed. And isn't that exactly how we would want to be in our lives? We aren't making it out alive, but we sure can make it out having lived it... ferociously.
And God knows, we will be better for it.
