Daily Times

As Shantipriya in her debut film, Om Shanti Om then as Leela Sanera in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and recently as Rani Padmavati in Padmaavat, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has given many spectacular performances in her career spanning over a decade. Now, Deepika has added another feather to her cap with her wax statue which was recently unveiled at Madame Tussauds, London.

Talking about the same in an interaction with DNA, the 33-year-old actress said, “It was extremely overwhelming and almost a bit surreal because, I think, for the first time you get a sense of maybe what people perceive you as.”

The diva also recalled the time when she went to Madame Tussauds as a little girl with her sister Anisha Padukone and their parents Prakash Padukone and Ujjala Padukone.

Talking about how the museum used to be one of their pit stops while sightseeing in London, Deepika said, “You stand in a line, buy a ticket and go inside thinking that this is the closest you can ever get to seeing people, who have been influential in shaping the world.”

She added, “I don’t think I ever thought of a point where I would be here. Also, more than for me, I think, it’s my parents who came here 35 years ago. Just yesterday, my mum mentioned that they never thought that their daughter would be here. So, this is an emotional moment for all of us.”

Deepika unveiled her wax statue yesterday and for the ceremony, she was accompanied by her parents, sister and husband Ranveer Singh.

On the movie front, Deepika is currently working on Meghna Gulzar’s next directorial, Chhapaak. The biographical drama is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and will feature Vikrant Massey in a vital role. The movie will also mark Deepika’s debut as a producer.

Published in Daily Times, March 16^th 2019.