Deepika Padukone didn’t enter the showbiz industry to be a leading lady. Slowly, and almost deliberately, she rewrote that rulebook.
For a long time in Bollywood, the concept of a leading lady came with ready-made rulebook. She was expected to look perfect, romance the hero flawlessly, and have nothing much to add when the plot demanded either heroism or emotional depth. Then arrived Deepika Padukone! Slowly, but with consistent efforts, she rewrote the rulebook. But did she change thing overnight? No. Deepika made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om in the most traditional way. She looked beautiful, elegant, and was comfortably put in a male-star-driven story. But what really gave her an edge over others was intent. She didn’t find comfort in playing safe versions of herself. Instead, she made conscious efforts to take up different roles and stretch limits of what a typical heroine could actually do and lead.
For instance, consider Cocktail. The film – which had released in 2012 – is often referred to as a turning point in her career. Deepika played Veronica in the film, and with it she was successful in breaking away from the ‘typical Indian girl’ stereotype. Deepika’s character was messy, flawed, modern yet vulnerable. Since Veronica was humanised, she wasn’t punished for being unapologetically modern. The role played a crucial role in how viewers interpreted Deepika and showed an evident shift in how directors wrote roles of women in commercial cinema.
Then came Chennai Express which was released in 2013 and featured Deepika as Meenamma, a spirited woman who belonged to a powerful Tamil family. She didn’t play a submissive woman. She would talk back, make her decisions, and never show qualms in challenging the hero. While Shah Rukh Khan led the film, Deepika’s character reacted, resisted, and held her ground amid the chaos. The same year also saw the release of Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. Deepika Padukone played Leela, a fierce and impulsive woman. From the moment she arrives on the screen, Leela commands attention. Her desire is bold, conflict completely sharp and her choices totally unapologetic. In a nutshell, Leela’s intensity, and emotional depth helped her character emerge as the film’s backbone. In Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Deepika Padukone portrayal of Naina Talwar was both relatable and grounded. Even though the film was lighthearted and youth-centric romance, Naina’s emotional depth helped her leave an indelible impact.
In the next four years too, Deepika won hearts with her flawless performances in films including Finding Fanny, Piku, Tamasha, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. Deepika made the story of Piku emotionally grounded by playing an independent woman – who balances family, love and her duties – with ease. With Piku, Deepika cemented her impact. Tamasha featured her as Tara – the anchor to Ranbir Kapoor’s complicated character. She won appreciation for making the film emotionally connected. What came next was a character totally different. In Bajirao Mastani, as Mastani, she stood for courage. Rather than just playing a love interest, she drove the narrative alongside the hero. In Padmaavat too, her portrayal of Rani Padmavati won hearts. It stood for dignity, strategy, and strength. In all the aforementioned film, Deepika’s roles were central, and proved that a leading lady could be complicated, commanding, and important for both story and screen presence.
Deepika’s strength doesn’t lie in individual roles that she has essayed, but in consistency. She didn’t perform just one strong woman film. Deepika’s consistency in performing complex roles influenced not just how roles are written for her, but also other female actors.
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