Deepika Padukone

File:Deepika1.jpg

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone, born 1986, is an Indian supermodel. She is also the daughter of former World badminton Champion Prakash Padukone.

Modelling Career

Deepika appeared on the modelling scene, with appearances in print and television advertising campaigns for Liril soap, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca. She made her debut on the ramp in 2003 at The Vague Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore, and immediately shot to prominence in the industry. She received many prestigious modelling offers, including brand ambassadorship of the Jewels of India, an annual jewellery exhibition. She hit the international scene when Maybelline made her their new international cover face.

At the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards, for Indian models and designers, she was awarded the title of Model of the Year. Shortly afterwards, she was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006, thus cementing her reputation as a supermodel. She also bagged two trophies at the Idea Zee F Awards in 2006 - Female Model of the year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the year.

Appearances on screen

It was expected that Deepika, like many successful models before her, would turn to acting in Bollywood. She seemed to be taking steps in that direction when she appeared in the music video for "Naam Hai Tera," a song from the pop album Aap Ka Suroor, an independent album by popular Bollywood singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya.

However, Deepika recently announced that she would make her cinematic debut in a Kannada film, Aishwarya, directed by Indrajit Lankesh. The movie co-stars Upendra. Reportedly, she has also signed on two Hindi movies - Priyadarshan's forthcoming film, Pirate and Farah Khan's second directorial venture, Om Shanti Om, which is slated for a 2007 release. However, Deepika has categorically denied ever having met Priyadarshan, and claims she is not doing his film. Khan's film, however, seem very much on the anvil, though she seems reluctant to talk about it with the press and won't confirm or deny developments. Deepika has also signed an untitled Tamil film opposite Surya to be directed by Gautham Menon and produced by Ram Gopal Varma and Jyothika. [1]

Personal Life

She is currently in the news related to socialite and wannnabe model Nihar Pandya, best known for his bit role in Himesh Reshammiya's music video "I Love You O Sayoni". Deepika is said to have influenced his selection for the role.