Long before Deepika Padukone established herself as one of India’s biggest film stars and highest-paid actresses, her journey began on the badminton court. Filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh, who introduced Deepika to the silver screen with the 2006 Kannada film “Aishwarya”, recently looked back on her early years, recalling how a disciplined state-level badminton player transformed into a supermodel before making a successful transition to cinema. He also revealed how the film’s success eventually caught the attention of Shah Rukh Khan.
Lankesh reflected on Deepika’s remarkable rise from sport to stardom and expressed pride in everything she has achieved over the years. “She’s not just a superstar, she’s still the no. 1 actress, the highest-paid actress in India now. I’m proud to say that,” he said.
Lankesh shared that he had known Deepika since her badminton days, thanks to their shared connection with the sport. As the daughter of legendary badminton player Prakash Padukone, Deepika was herself a talented athlete who represented Karnataka at the state level. According to the filmmaker, she displayed exceptional focus and determination even as a young player, qualities that would later define her acting career.
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“Of course, she had the charisma. When I looked at her, I could feel that her presence in itself was so engaging. When I was a young boy, I used to play badminton with her. She was an amazing badminton player. She was playing for the state. She was very focused,” he recalled.
While Prakash Padukone reportedly hoped that his elder daughter would pursue badminton professionally, Deepika eventually chose a different path by stepping into the world of modelling. Lankesh admitted he was stunned when he first saw her on the fashion circuit after years of knowing her as an athlete.
“When I became a director, I suddenly saw her in a fashion show. And the next day, I saw her still in a leading magazine. Then I was very shocked. What a transformation from a badminton player to a supermodel,” he said.
As he began casting for “Aishwarya”, Lankesh felt Deepika possessed every quality he was looking for in the lead actress. Her height, athletic personality, striking screen presence and natural confidence convinced him she was the perfect choice for the role. He soon contacted her and met her in Mumbai, where she was accompanied by her manager, Pooja Dadlani.
Speaking about Dadlani’s role in Deepika’s early career, Lankesh credited her for providing valuable guidance during the actress’ formative years in the entertainment industry.