Indian filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh has disclosed how he discovered Deepika Padukone before she became one of India's biggest stars, and that Shah Rukh Khan saw the same potential in her. Speaking on a podcast, Lankesh detailed his discovery of Deepika, tracing her journey from a promising badminton player to a top model and eventually a Bollywood superstar. He also recalled how Shah Rukh Khan recognized her star quality before the release of their film Om Shanti Om.
From Badminton to Modelling: The Discovery
Lankesh explained that he first noticed Deepika while she was working as a fashion model in Bangalore. “At that time, I didn't look back. I called her after she moved to Mumbai following the Bangalore fashion show,” he said. “Immediately, I wanted that kind of girl for my film Aishwarya.”
Shah Rukh Khan's Witty Remark
The filmmaker recalled an event where Shah Rukh Khan was in Bangalore for an event where Deepika was playing the lead in Aishwarya. A journalist asked Shah Rukh about casting her in his new film Om Shanti Om and whether he knew that Aishwarya had become a viral hit. “He replied in a witty way, saying, 'I heard it's a big hit. That means I'll have to pay her more,'” Lankesh said.
Deepika's Bollywood Debut and Star Quality
Within a year, Deepika made her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh in Om Shanti Om, which became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year and launched her career. Reflecting on Deepika's rise, Lankesh said she always possessed the qualities of a true superstar. “She has the charisma, the presence in itself was so engaging. She was five-foot-nine, tall with a sports body. She was an amazing world champion badminton player,” Lankesh said, revealing his first impression of the actor.
Crediting Others and Recognizing a Star
The filmmaker acknowledged that he was not solely responsible for Deepika's success. “Pooja Dadlani deserves a lot of credit for helping shape Deepika's career. She did a lot of the work,” he said, referring to the actor's manager at the time. Lankesh added that he had always believed Deepika had the rare qualities that separated stars from actors. “Deepika was a star from day one. It's easy to say it now, but nobody believed me. I knew she was a star,” he said. “There are some people who are actors, and some who are stars. Deepika had that screen presence. I could tell she was destined to become a superstar.”
Deepika's First Day on Set
Recalling Deepika's first experience in front of the camera, Lankesh admitted that, like any newcomer, she initially found acting intimidating. “In Aishwarya, I remember she was acting opposite a young boy named Kishan, who had already done around 40 films as a child actor. He knew everything,” he said, explaining that the young actor was already familiar with camera equipment and filmmaking techniques. “It was very intimidating for any new actor. Her facial muscles started reacting, and as a director I noticed that. My job was to make a new actor feel comfortable on the first day.” Lankesh added, “Once she understood what acting required, she found her rhythm. After that, there was no looking back.”
