WAVES 2025: 'It felt like home'; Deepika Padukone Talks About Her Early Days in Bollywood

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone was part of the panel discussion at the WAVES 2025, alongside Shah Rukh Khan, the session being moderated by Karan Johar. At the session, Deepika Padukone opened up on being an outsider in Bollywood and how she got her first film.

Deepika Padukone despite not hailing from a family associated with the film industry, she has made a name for herself in the industry. Deepika Padukone, originally from Bengaluru, moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting.

Deepika opened about moving to Mumbai and being apart of Bollywood, she said, "I agree with SRK that these are terms that we are discussing, insider and outsider. When I came to films, I came from Bangalore and I was transitioning between Bangalore and Mumbai. I met Farah Khan. She said I want you to meet SRK once, and he was shooting for Chak De. I was a model before that and they had seen my work. I never felt I was an outsider. I had the determination, hard work and those were the things under my control”.

She continued, "I was never made to feel like an outsider. I can't think of the last time when a newcomer was given a double role. Such a meaty role. It felt like home. I could make mistakes."

Deepika Padukone made her Bollywood debut in Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’, alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The pair have appeared in numerous films together and are loved by the fans. Deepika was last seen in Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham Again’.