National-level badminton player, award-winning performer, mental health campaigner and international style icon—Deepika Padukone is exactly where she wants to be. Serena Menon reunites the Bollywood actor with her mentor, renowned film-maker and choreographer Farah Khan, as they reflect on her journey from ingenuous debutante to industry leader.
Deepika Padukone: Yeah, because I feel like—and I like the word you used, brave—there always seems to be this pressure on women, especially in film, to do everything now, make hay while the sun shines…
FK: It’s always a 100-metre dash, not a marathon.
DP: And I think, somewhere, I got fed up of people telling me that. I don’t look at my career like that. The perception that it is short-lived, so you have to make the most of it. If you’re looking at a career in the long run, it’s important to replenish emotionally, and that’s why this break is important.
FK: Others wouldn’t have dared to do this. People are so insecure…
DP: It [my decision to take this time off] comes with being comfortable with where I am, and with whom I am. I’m very happy to be in this place today, where I can do things on my own terms. And this was actually my issue when I started out. I was always trying to fit in. I felt like there was this mould for a heroine…
FK: But 10 years ago, there was a mould.
DP: Personally, I think I broke it when I started being myself and enjoying myself...pre Cocktail (2012).
FK: There was a time, when I seriously thought your career was going to derail—because Om Shanti Om (2007) was such a big hit, and obviously post that you had just signed whatever you were getting. Not many people come out of that phase like you did…
Denne historien er fra September 2018-utgaven av Elle India.
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Denne historien er fra September 2018-utgaven av Elle India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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