5 things to know about Deepika Padukone, the Bollywood actress, producer and model
Fans can buy Deepika Padukone’s favourite items and accessories via a ‘wardrobe’ on her website, with proceeds going to her Live Love Laugh Foundation which promotes awareness of mental health issues
Deepika Padukone is a versatile actress, film producer and model. She is the highest-paid actress in India, has earned three Filmfare awards and was listed by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. Here are five more fascinating facts fans need to know about her.
1. She cares deeply about mental health
In 2014, Deepika Padukone was diagnosed with depression. After the diagnosis, she realised that there was a stigma attached to mental health conditions in India, making it difficult for those who need counselling or treatment to obtain help. Her experience led her to start The Live Love Laugh Foundation in 2015. TLLLF has conducted school awareness programmes for preteens and teenagers; supported a rural mental health programme that offers free mental health care, medication, ongoing psychiatric treatment and vocational training; and launched two nationwide campaigns to highlight mental health awareness. The latter campaign, titled “Not Ashamed”, inspired a hashtag that is still used to this day by people sharing their stories related to mental health and well-being.
2. She was once a professional badminton player
Deepika’s father, Prakash Padukone, was a professional badminton player, and Deepika followed in his footsteps. She played at the national championships as a teenager, but then left the sport to pursue her passion for modelling. She said she realised she was only playing sports because it “ran in the family”. It probably helped that her father was not upset by her decision to abandon his preferred career option, so she could follow her own dreams.
3. She sells items from her wardrobe
Deepika Padukone set up a “wardrobe” on her website to allow fans to buy some of her favourite wardrobe items and accessories. The dresses, jackets, purses and other items for sale are all from fashion brands such as Alexander McQueen, Dolce and Gabbana, Nike, Abercrombie and Finch, Gucci and Zara. Proceeds from the sale go to The Live Love Laugh Foundation.