Deepika Padukone, one of Bollywood’s leading actresses, has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine in an oversized beige pant-suit and bare feet, with the headline “The Global Star: Deepika Padukone Is Bringing the World to Bollywood”. In an interview with TIME, Padukone responded to a question about the “constant political backlash” she has faced over the years, saying she doesn’t know if she’s supposed to feel something about it.
The article mentions some of the controversies Padukone has been involved in, including accusations of historical distortion in the film “Padmaavat”, her support for JNU students during the release of her first production “Chhapaak”, and allegations that she hurt religious sentiments by wearing a “saffron” bikini as a Pakistani spy in the “Pathaan” song “Besharam Rang”. The interview reportedly came to a “long pause” after Padukone was asked about the political backlash.
Padukone has been a prominent figure in Indian cinema for over a decade and has established herself as a global star with roles in Hollywood films such as “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” and “The Intern”. However, her success has not shielded her from criticism and controversy, especially on political issues.
In 2020, during the release of her first production “Chhapaak”, which was based on the real-life story of an acid attack survivor, Padukone visited Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to express solidarity with the students who were attacked by a masked mob. Her gesture was met with both praise and criticism, with some calling for a boycott of her films.
Similarly, her role in “Padmaavat” was met with controversy, with some groups accusing the film of distorting historical facts and disrespecting the Rajput community. Padukone faced death threats and was even offered police protection at the time.
More recently, Padukone has been accused of hurting religious sentiments by wearing a “saffron” bikini in the “Pathaan” song “Besharam Rang”. Saffron is considered a sacred color in Hinduism, and the song’s lyrics reportedly contain derogatory references to Hindu gods and goddesses.
Padukone’s response to the political backlash she has faced has been ambiguous, with the actress seemingly unsure of how to react to the criticism. However, her continued success and global reach suggest that the controversies have not affected her career as much as some may have hoped
Deepika Padukone’s cover on TIME magazine highlights her status as a global star and her role in bringing Bollywood to the world. However, the interview also sheds light on the political controversies that have dogged her career and her uncertain response to them.
