Deepika Padukone is shifting old paradigms and starting new conversations

Deepika is wearing a shoulder detail turtleneck sweater, neon satin a-line mini skirt, both Louis Vuitton, price on request

There’s a quiet resilience to Deepika Padukone. It comes through with her impressive body of work that she’s carefully crafted through the years, playing disparate roles that embody who the modern Indian woman is.

It comes through when we engage with her over a Zoom call (“being vulnerable is powerful,” she tells me emphatically). It comes through when she talks passionately about embarking on an entrepreneurial journey with the launch of her self-care brand, 82°E, and when she discusses how important it is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem to safeguard her mental health.
Deepika is wearing a ‘Hot Pink’ quilted jumper, snap button leather skirt, ‘LV Circle’ reversible belt, ‘Sparkle’ slingbacks (India Exclusive Capsule), all Louis Vuitton, price on request

Throughout her career in sports, fashion, and films, Padukone has operated from a place of curiosity and non-judgment; she’s started hard conversations about mental health, cracked open taboos, and has looked for connection and resonance everywhere she can find it.

“I’ve always been quietly confident, and it stems from self-preservation. I don’t find the need to make a splash with everything I do. I enjoy doing things that feel organic and authentic,” she says.

The actor straddles two different worlds gracefully; she effortlessly made the Cannes red carpet her playground as a jury member for the prestigious film festival earlier in the year. She’s been spotted at Louis Vuitton runway shows worldwide as their global ambassador (since May this year) and also became the ambassador for Cartier in October 2022.

She visited Chinna Chinna Ikkam village of Tiruvallur district, about 80 kilometers from Chennai, as she faced six women in pink saris, all Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), to discuss in detail the numerous mental health issues prevalent in their communities – postpartum depression among new mothers, suicidal tendencies and stigma-induced trauma amid people with disabilities.

Flanked by her mother, Ujjala, counsellor Anna Chandy on one side, sister Anisha, and friend and Live Love Laugh Foundation trustee Ananth Narayanan on the other, Padukone interacted with activists, health workers, caregivers and the media.
Deepika is wearing a ‘Marinière’ bateau knit blouse, ‘Pop Pink’ straight cut jeans,‘ LV Circle’ reversible belt all Louis Vuitton, price on request
 

 

In a candid chat, Padukone tells us why self-care is more about replenishing her soul, what she most looks forward to in a day, and why she won’t apologise for being ambitious.

GRAZIA: With 82°E, you’re taking India to the world. Were you nervous or empowered, or both?
DEEPIKA PADUKONE: It would have to be both. When it comes to sharing something so personal with the world, it makes you a bit nervous. I always approach life and work with a curious, open-minded, and service-centric focus, which holds to what we’ve created.

We ask questions about all of it. We believe people can take what serves them and leave what doesn’t. We recommend what we love and think is worthy of your time. But it’s also empowering because being completely honest with our intentions with the brand meant that we were selling a transparent experience.

G: Being in the public eye and straddling fame and other commitments, how important has it been to create your selfsustaining ecosystem?

DP: It comes with having different experiences in life. And as you navigate it all, you realise that it becomes essential to create small pockets of happiness that help you consistently nurture your mind, body and spirit. I’ve spoken to many women over the years who have successfully carved out time for self-care beyond the little things we do daily. I’ve consciously built a safe space for myself through rituals that help me stay true to who I am.

For me, it is a meeting ground for you when you need assistance or need to be alone, for others who need the same. It’s a simple concept with a significant impact. Having a safe space is hugely important to me. There’s something powerful about not apologising for being who you are, what you’re experiencing, or what you’ve done. You feel less afraid when you feel loved and confident instead of regretful and defensive.

And when you feel less afraid, you can process and work towards change more freely. I make time for the ones I love because they are the ones who form the crux of my ecosystem. It’s important for me to have them around.

G: Is being human, in this age of social media where people constantly present perfection, something you’ve allowed yourself to be?
DP: Being in the public eye will open you up to scrutiny – that’s natural. But that hasn’t stopped me from being open to new people and experiences. The uncertainty can sometimes feel scary or at least unfamiliar if you’re not accustomed to it, but I’ve tried to be brave and vulnerable. As scary as it is to open up to the world about things that make you human, communicate your fears and be honest about how you choose to evolve. Every time you open up, you’re working towards a solution instead of closing yourself off.

G: There is tremendous pressure to be likeable when you are a woman, or you risk being misunderstood, especially when a woman is ambitious. How have you perceived ambition?
DP: I’ve always been competitive because that’s just the sportsperson in me. Do I apologise for being ambitious? No. It is not something we should apologise for. In most cases, ambitious women are viewed as pushy, selfish and unlikeable. I don’t necessarily think success is so off-putting, but the desire for something more inspires feelings of disdain. We all, irrespective of gender, deserve to want more. We all deserve to dream big.
Deepika is wearing an Oversized cashmere jumper, monogram detail cargo pants, ‘Archlight’ slingbacks (India Exclusive Capsule), all Louis Vuitton, price on request

 

G: You’ve always played empowered women on screen. Do you perceive these characters through your own life experiences? Do they have to, in some way, echo your strengths and vulnerabilities as a person? Or do you enjoy playing characters that are far removed from yourself?

DP: I’ve always played characters that imbibe a little bit of who I am, but I’ve always enjoyed essaying roles that are starkly removed from who I am too. It’s about finding a balance in telling a story convincingly. Veronica (in Cocktail) was nothing like me in real life. She’s fiery, feisty and fierce.

But deep down, she had an emotional core that longed for love and friendship. Her uniqueness intrigued me. In Piku, I had no frills or crutches to rely on; I had to keep it as authentic as possible.