Even virtually 19 years later, one can’t neglect the primary time Deepika Padukone appeared on the large display in a Bollywood movie. Even Shah Rukh Khan, enjoying junior artiste Om Makhija in Farah Khan’s 2007 blockbuster reincarnation saga Om Shanti Om, was awestruck as Deepika walked the crimson carpet as ace yesteryear actor Shantipriya in her first Hindi movie. However not too many keep in mind that it wasn’t her first-ever movie. She’d already delivered successful on her dwelling turf of Bengaluru with Indrajit Lankesh’s 2006 Kannada romantic drama Aishwarya, the place she performed the titular position.
“She’s not only a celebrity, she’s nonetheless the no 1 actress, the best paid actress in India now. I’m proud to say that,” mentioned Lankesh on a latest podcast. “After all, she had the charisma. After I checked out her, I might really feel that her presence in itself was so participating. After I was a younger boy, I used to play badminton along with her. She was a tremendous badminton participant. She was enjoying for the state. She was very targeted,” he recalled.
Deepika’s father Prakash Padukone is a legendary badminton participant, who additionally needed his elder daughter to comply with in his footsteps. Whereas Deepika was coaching for that, little did she know that life would take her elsewhere. “After I turned a director, I all of a sudden noticed her in a trend present. And the following day, I noticed her nonetheless in a number one journal. Then I used to be very shocked, what a change from a badminton participant to a supermodel,” Indrajit Lankesh mentioned on Hindi Rush’s YouTube channel.
Recounting that Deepika Padukone was 5’9, had an “wonderful sports activities physique”, “lovely eyes”, and “a pan-Indian face”, Lankesh mentioned she was precisely the lady he was on the lookout for in his directorial Aishwarya. Earlier than giving it any second ideas, he referred to as her up and ultimately met her in Mumbai, the place she was accompanied by her then-manager Pooja Dadlani, who’s now the supervisor of Shah Rukh Khan.
“Pooja Dadlani was a pal and supervisor. She was managing Deepika even earlier than she got here to the trade. In actual fact, plenty of the success of Deepika Padukone ought to go to Pooja Dadlani. We all know that as we speak, Pooja Dadlani is Shah Rukh Khan’s girl Friday as we speak,” mentioned the filmmaker. Deepika signed Aishwarya after only a one-line narration, given Indrajit’s earlier directorial, 2004 Kannada romantic drama Monalisa, was a silver-jubilee hit.
How Aishwarya’s success led to Om Shanti Om
“Aishwarya was a giant hit with Deepika Padukone within the title position. It performed in theatres for 50 days. There have been massive hoardings all over the place, and articles in Hindi newspapers. In actual fact, Shah Rukh Khan had visited Bengaluru for an occasion then. When a journalist requested him about Aishwarya, Shah Rukh Khan, being witty and along with his sense of humour, simply mentioned, ‘I got here to realize it’s a giant hit. Meaning I’ll must pay her extra.’ I used to be there as a journalist. I used to be laughing,” recalled the journalist-turned-filmmaker.
Deepika Padukone made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om (Photograph: Deepika Padukone/Instagram)
“She didn’t look again. She was so targeted and passionate, after all, identical to her dad was on the badminton court docket. The eagerness and eager to win got here from her dad. So, there was Om Shanti Om and Bachna Ae Haseeno,” mentioned Lankesh.
Story continues under this advert
Deepika Padukone’s development is a ‘case research’
“It’s straightforward to say now. No one will imagine me, however she was a star from day 1,” claimed Indrajit Lankesh. “There are some people who find themselves actors, and a few are stars. Like Rajinikanth is a celebrity. From her presence on day 1, I might really feel that Deepika is a star. That’s the rationale after all Shah Rukh, a giant celebrity, took a brand new expertise like her. He’d seen one thing in her. That’s what I noticed in her first movie, once I launched her,” he added.
“Coming from Bengaluru into Mumbai, it’s an ocean. Proving her expertise, and even as we speak, to be no 1, it’s a giant case research. After all, it’s a must to be targeted, deal with your PR in a giant method, and choose the proper motion pictures. When the going will get powerful, the powerful get going. That’s what Deepika is. When the going bought powerful, she did a Cocktail, which was a troublesome position,” mentioned Lankesh, referring to Homi Adajania’s 2009 rom-com which reimagined her as Veronica. “She got here again along with her second innings and gave superhits,” added the filmmaker.
Deepika Padukone on day 1 of her debut movie
Indrajit Lankesh additionally recounted Deepika Padukone’s “intimidating” expertise of working with little one artiste Kishan, who performed her brother, in Aishwarya. He was a seasoned little one actor, having performed 40 movies, and was utterly well-versed with technical elements of filmmaking like blocking and digital camera angles. “When she had her first scene with him on her first day, her facial muscle tissues began to function. And as a director, I noticed that,” recalled the filmmaker.
“My job as a director was to make a brand new actor snug on the primary day, after which she’d get snug with the digital camera and lights. How a lot ever expertise you’ve had as a mannequin, as an actor, it’s a distinct ballgame. To recollect your strains and say them whereas remaining in character is sort of powerful. I stored it mild for her the primary day, however as quickly as she realised that that is performing, she mentioned, ‘I’d nail it.’ And she or he didn’t look again,” mentioned Lankesh.
Story continues under this advert
Additionally Learn: Manoj Bajpayee on love story with spouse Shabana, why she’s by no means visited his movie set
After holding her personal in entrance of Upendra in Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om, Deepika Padukone went on to star in hits like Love Aaj Kal (2009), Housefull (2010), Desi Boyz (2011), Race 2 (2012), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Specific, Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela (2013), Blissful New 12 months (2014), Piku, Bajirao Mastani (2015), Padmaavat (2018), Pathaan, Jawan (2023), and Kalki 2898 AD (2024). She’ll be subsequent seen reverse Shah Rukh in King and reverse Allu Arjun in Atlee’s motion movie Raaka.
