Global star Deepika Padukone turned 37 today. On this occasion, birthday wishes have been pouring in from all corners of the world. She is one of the highest-paid actors in India, and her accolades include three Filmfare best actor Awards.
Padukone has given several iconic roles in 13 years of her acting career, and the actor does not shy away to wear flaws on her sleeves.
From being the only Indian to be a brand ambassador of Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Levi’s to having her Madame Tussauds wax statue with the elitists, the actor has several feathers on her cap.
As Deepika Padukone celebrates her 37th birthday, we bring to you 5 promising roles that only DP could have pulled off.
The film that went unnoticed at the time of its release but is now the highest-regarded film for Bollywood lovers, Tamasha is a once-in-a-lifetime film. Just as the actors say, Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor were lucky to have been chosen by Imtiaz Ali to play the character of Tara and Ved.
While Kapoor gave his career-best performance in Tamasha, Padukone brought the much-needed anchor ship to the film. Tamasha is a film that everyone can relate to at some point in their life and the credit goes to both the lead actors.
Padukone’s character’s rawness and the emotions in her eyes was the highlight of the film, like literally, people could just look into her eyes and know what was Tara going through.
Deepika Padukone in and as Piku
A daughter dealing with her father’s constipation seems like a fun story, but it was Padukone who added emotions and swing to that character. A woman hailing from Kolkata to be living in Delhi and dealing with her father’s constipation and uncalled for critical approach is Piku’s theme.
An actor like Padukone to be picking up a character like Piku, that too after heavy-handed films like Bajirao Mastani and Ram Leela was a smart choice.
The character is still regarded as one of the most-layered characters played on screen and DP’s work in Piku was widely appreciated by critics as well as the audience. She also ended up winning the Filmfare award for Best Actor that year.
Mastani Bai in Bajirao Mastani
After Ram Leela, not only fans but even Padukone wanted to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali only because the audience thought the Om Shanti Om actor could pull off a historical character after seeing her as Leela.
And the actor didn’t disappoint the audience. Bajirao Mastani! the grand ethereal Bollywood film, with prominent actors like Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Milind Soman, and many others proved Padukone’s mettle once again.
With the traumas that Mastani was going through, the hardships that she had to deal with, and the non-acceptance the character received, the star made it her own. From deadly sword fights to impactful dialogues, she got everything absolutely spot on in this film.
Veronica in Cocktail
The actor, who hails from Bangalore made a mark on the big screen with a Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan, after a few flops and turn around in her personal life, Deepika Padukone’s Cocktail turned out to be a game changer for her. The role of Veronica not only established her as a capable actor but also opened the gate for Padukone in women-centric films.
The way she portrayed Veronica’s emotions on screen, made the audience fall for her pain. The actor was also credited for dealing with her character’s mental issues very well.
Shanti and Sandhya (Sandy) in and Om Shanti Om
To all those who are wondering why with films like Chhapaak, Padmavat, Ram Leela, Chennai Express, and Gehrayiyan in her kitty, Om Shanti Om in this list, please look back at Deepika Padukone walking out of that yellow taxi in pink lehenga waving at us and letting the world know that she has arrived.
An actor like Padukone deserved a grand debut like Om Shanti Om opposite one and only Shah Rukh Khan. The film had both actors in double roles and Padukone nailed both the roles of Shanti and Sandhya. She brought much-needed calmness to Shanti’s character, while the actor seemed to have a fun time playing Sandy.
Dhurandhar continues its strong theatrical run, achieving a major milestone at the global box office. The Ranveer Singh-led film has crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide within 21 days of its release, reinforcing its position as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 so far.
Released on December 5, the film has shown sustained momentum both in India and overseas, outperforming other major releases of the year and entering the elite Rs 1,000 crore club.
Strong worldwide and domestic performance
According to figures shared by the makers, Dhurandhar has earned Rs 1006.7 crore globally in just three weeks. With this, it has gone past earlier big releases of the year, including Kantara Chapter 1 and Chhaava, to set a new benchmark in worldwide collections.
In the domestic market, the film has posted equally impressive numbers. Over its first 21 days, Dhurandhar collected more than Rs 650 crore in India. The film earned Rs 28.60 crore on Day 21, which coincided with Christmas, further boosting its overall tally.
A closer look at the India collections shows a strong week-wise performance. The film opened with Rs 218 crore in its first week, followed by Rs 261.50 crore in the second week. Between Days 15 and 20, it added Rs 160.70 crore. With the Day 21 earnings included, the total net domestic collection stands at Rs 668.80 crore, placing it among the biggest box office successes of the year and pushing it closer to the Rs 700 crore mark in India.
Entry into top domestic earners list
With its current numbers, Dhurandhar has also secured a spot among the top ten highest-grossing Indian films based on domestic net collections. The film has overtaken Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal to claim the ninth position on the list, underlining its exceptional run in theatres.
Cast, direction and sequel announcement
Headlined by Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar features an ensemble cast that includes Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi. The film is directed by Aditya Dhar, whose storytelling and the performances of the cast have been key factors behind its box office success.
The makers have already confirmed a sequel, which was hinted at in the post-credit scene. The follow-up film is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, and will hit theatres in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
With its record-breaking global earnings and continued strong performance in India, Dhurandhar is set to close 2025 as one of the most successful Indian films in recent years.
Social media users were left amused and confused after several viral clips claimed that Bollywood actor Govinda had made a surprise cameo in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The videos, which surfaced days after the film’s global release, showed Govinda as a blue-skinned Na’vi on Pandora, delivering dialogues in his trademark style or appearing on screen alongside Jake Sully.
The clips spread rapidly across platforms, with many viewers enjoying the humour, while others questioned whether the filmmaker had actually pulled off an unexpected crossover. Comments ranged from jokes asking where the “full movie” could be watched to disbelief over the possibility of such a casting choice.
No real cameo, clips are entirely AI-generated
Despite their convincing visuals, the viral videos are not authentic. Govinda does not appear in Avatar: Fire and Ash in any form. All the circulating clips and images have been created using artificial intelligence and fan edits, meant purely as memes and satire.
The buzz grew partly because of an old interview where Govinda had claimed he was once offered a role in Avatar but declined it. In that interaction, the actor spoke about being approached for a long shooting schedule and even claimed to have suggested the film’s title. However, this account was later questioned by his wife, Sunita Ahuja, who publicly said she was unaware of any such offer and distanced herself from the claim.
How old claims added fuel to the viral joke
Sunita Ahuja, speaking in a recent podcast, said she had no knowledge of the filmmaker visiting or offering Govinda a role, adding that she did not support false narratives. Her remarks resurfaced as the AI-generated clips went viral, reinforcing that the current buzz has no factual basis.
Avatar, directed by James Cameron, released in 2009, followed by The Way of Water in 2022. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment of the franchise, is currently running in cinemas worldwide, featuring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana in lead roles.
Christopher Nolan’s much-awaited film The Odyssey has officially stepped into the spotlight with the release of its first trailer. The ambitious project adapts Homer’s legendary epic and promises a large-scale cinematic experience rooted in myth, war and survival.
A glimpse into Odysseus’ long journey home
The trailer introduces Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek hero trying to make his way back home after the Trojan War. The visuals open in the immediate aftermath of the war, showing Odysseus leading his men away from Troy with the hope of returning to their families. However, the journey ahead appears long and dangerous.
Scenes highlight harsh landscapes, turbulent seas and repeated shipwrecks, underlining the physical and emotional toll of the voyage. The focus remains on endurance and survival rather than dialogue, with visuals driving the narrative forward.
One notable sequence shows Odysseus and his soldiers hidden inside the Trojan Horse, confirming that the fall of Troy forms part of the film’s early chapters. Another moment set in a dark cave, with an ominous moving shadow, hints at mythical threats without revealing them fully.
Family ties at the heart of the story
Alongside the action, the trailer places emphasis on family and emotional bonds. Tom Holland appears as Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, while Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, his wife waiting for his return. Their presence adds a personal dimension to the otherwise grand scale of the story.
Ensemble cast and technical scale
The film features an extensive cast that includes Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel and Corey Hawkins, alongside Damon, Hathaway and Holland.
Christopher Nolan has written and directed The Odyssey and is producing it with Emma Thomas. Backed by a major studio, the film has been shot using new IMAX technology and is described as the first feature made entirely using IMAX’s largest film format.
The Odyssey is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on July 17, 2026.
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