Did You Know Deepika Padukone didn’t audition for Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om? Actress reveals never feeling like outsider

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Deepika Padukone first appeared in Hindi cinema through the 2007 movie Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan. In this romance fantasy film, she acted alongside Shah Rukh Khan. During the WAVES 2025 Summit, she addressed the ongoing ‘insider-outsider’ discussion.

2025 found me, an ardent admirer, standing at the Waves Summit, heart pounding as Bollywood’s radiant beacon, Deepika Padukone, shared her thoughts on the age-old insider-outsider debate within our beloved film industry. As she stood shoulder to shoulder with legends like Shah Rukh Khan and visionary Karan Johar, she offered a candid, introspective glimpse into her transformation from Bangalore to a household name in Indian cinema. Her words were a testament to resilience and determination, echoing through the auditorium as she gracefully navigated the complexities of our industry’s landscape.

In response to the topic of nepotism, she admitted that terms such as “insider” and “outsider” are talked about more frequently today compared to when she initially started out. Reflecting on her personal journey, she explained, “Nowadays, we seem to be using terms like ‘insider’ or ‘outsider.’ Back then, when I first began, it was a completely new realm for me – I was merely a seventeen-year-old girl from Bangalore.

Deepika shared her experiences of starting out in the Kannada film Aishwarya and how her Bollywood career unexpectedly took off. She disclosed that Farah Khan expressed interest in casting her without requiring an audition. “Farah Khan wanted to cast me in a movie,” Deepika explained. “At the time, I was moving between Bangalore and Mumbai. She didn’t make me audition. I recall having a meeting with her once, and she said, ‘I want you to meet Shah Rukh sometime.’ He was filming Chak De! in Australia at that moment. She mentioned we would meet again when he returned. That was it for me. It just happened,” Deepika added.

Indeed, my background as a model did provide some initial opportunities, but it was always my unwavering commitment, burning enthusiasm, and relentless effort that truly paved my path to success. To be clear, I wasn’t an outsider trying to find my footing in a new field; rather, I was a determined individual who knew what I wanted and had the drive to make it happen.

Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Shah Rukh Khan stated that he doesn’t think the ‘insider-outsider’ label should hold so much significance. In his opinion, it’s not important where someone originates from; instead, what truly counts is how an individual establishes themselves within the industry.

Speaking about his personal journey, Shah Rukh shared that he never let himself feel like a stranger and always viewed the industry as a place where he belonged. He also highlighted the importance of avoiding the mindset of being an outsider, because ultimately, it’s one’s dedication and perseverance that truly matter, not one’s background or origins.

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2025-05-02 00:23