Deepika Not Afraid Of ‘Challenging Status Quo,’ Is On Top Of IMDb List

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – Deepika Padukone, who recently stepped away from major projects like Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 and Spirit, has celebrated a career milestone: a prominent placement on IMDb’s 25 Years of Indian Cinema (2000–2025) report.

The special feature, which analyzed the top five most popular Indian films each year from January 2000 to August 2025, highlighted Padukone’s remarkable standing. She appeared in ten of the 130 films featured, ranking above several industry heavyweights, including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Alia Bhatt. Shah Rukh Khan led the list with 20 films, followed by Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan with 11 each. Padukone also topped IMDb’s list of the most viewed Indian stars of the past decade.

Reflecting on her achievements to IMDb, Padukone spoke about the challenges women face in the film industry and connected her recognition to her recent professional choices. “When I began my journey, I was often told how a woman must navigate her career to succeed,” she said. “From the very beginning, I was never afraid to ask questions, ruffle feathers, take the harder path, and challenge the status quo.”

She added that the support of her family and collaborators enabled her to make bold decisions. “This IMDb recognition further validates my belief that honesty, authenticity, and resilience matter, and that by staying true to your core beliefs, change is possible,” Padukone said.

Her comments come after her exits from Kalki 2898 AD Part 2, where the studio cited the film’s need for a “higher level of commitment,” and Spirit, reportedly linked to her request for a structured eight-hour workday, sparking broader discussions on work-life balance for female actors.

Despite these departures, Padukone will star in the upcoming film King, reuniting with her close friend Shah Rukh Khan.