‘Challenging Experience’ is how Deepika Padukone describes her auditioning for Hollywood movies

The well-known actress Deepika Padukone has added another achievement to her long list of accomplishments. Deadline, an international journal, has recognized Deepika as a disruptor for the class of Movers & Shakers 2024, joining the prestigious ranks of Eva Longoria, Uma Thurman, and Lee Sung Jin. In an open discussion with the magazine, Deepika discussed her experiences in the entertainment business, the stigma associated with mental illness, and her efforts to introduce Indian films on the Hollywood worldwide stage.

Deepika made her screen debut in 2017’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage, marking the start of her Hollywood career. She spoke openly about her experience auditioning for Hollywood parts and about her path in the film business, saying, “Around ten years ago, when I started my journey in the West, auditioning, it was a really new process for me because I’d never had to.” I learned what I know from working as an actress on the job; I never attended a fancy acting school or was taught as an actor.

“The systems are so different between Hollywood and Bollywood,” she said, acknowledging the difficulty of Hollywood auditions. The success of RRR, which created Oscar history in 2023 with its Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu, served as an example of the widespread recognition of Indian cinema. She said, “I think the world has become smaller, and the world has come together and it’s really about telling great stories.” Telling captivating tales that appeal to a global audience is key, whether you’re working in Bosnia or Sweden.

She emphasized how the world’s view of Indian film is changing and said that while the country’s storytelling and labor culture have not changed, the recognition of Eastern stories—especially those from India—has. The realization that there is a “world” outside of America, she said, is what has caused the most shift.

Deepika is working on a number of fascinating projects right now. First up, she co-stars with Telugu superstar Prabhas in Kalki 2829 AD, which is scheduled for release in May. She will also be seen with her husband, Ranveer Singh, in Singham Again, the third part of Rohit Shetty’s Singham series. She will also play the lead in a Bollywood reimagining of the 2015 film The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. Notably, she will use her Ka Productions label to produce this production as well.