Deepika Padukone had an eventful work year in 2025. She started shooting for Shah Rukh Khan’s King and also announced her next film with Atlee and Allu Arjun. Not just Hindi cinema but the actress is making a wave globally as well with her brand deals and endorsements. Not just the actress, but Indian talent in general is taking the centerstage across the world. From luxury fashion houses to international entertainment platforms, India is leading them.
She said, “For the longest time, we as Indians have been so influenced by the rest of the world. I always questioned that. Why are we copying what’s happening elsewhere instead of leading? And as a talent, I never understood why we have to change who we are to fit someone else’s sensibility. If certain cinemas and talent from other parts of the world are accepted globally, why do we need to dilute ourselves? I see that as a lack of knowledge on the other side, not something wrong with us.”
Praising Ananya Panday and Alia Bhatt for their global brand deals, the actress continued, “For me, ‘global Indian’ is about being proud of who we are, not apologising for it, and taking that to the world. When Louis Vuitton put up those hoardings in LA with my campaign, I didn’t feel it was my personal victory. I felt we were finally being seen. And now, when I see Alia Bhatt with Gucci, Ananya Panday with Chanel, all these girls with global brands, it feels like we’ve arrived collectively. I feel proud of us, not just for me.”
