Deepika Padukone gets a spot on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame
In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone has been selected as one of the honorees for the Class of 2026 on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Indian actress to receive this honour.
In the announcement made this week, Deepika was named alongside global stars such as Timothée Chalamet, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Miley Cyrus, Rachel McAdams, Demi Moore, Rami Malek, and Shaquille O’Neal, among a total of 35 awardees across the fields of film, television, sports, music, and theatre.
Peter Roth, chairman of the Walk of Fame selection committee, remarked in a statement, “These talented individuals have made significant contributions to the world of entertainment, and we are thrilled to honour them with this well-deserved recognition," thereby highlighting Padukone’s well-deserved renown, cementing her place in cinema history.
Deepika made her debut in the film industry as the titular lead in the Kannada film Aishwarya in 2006. Her Bollywood introduction came in 2007 with Om Shanti Om while she first gained international recognition in 2017 with her role in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, starring opposite Vin Diesel. Her global impact was further affirmed by her iconic appearances at the Cannes Film Festival, at the Academy Awards as the presenter of the Oscar-winning ‘Naatu Naatu’, and her 2018 feature on Time’s “100 Most Influential People” list.
The announcement has lit up social media, with the achievement being termed a “historic milestone” and “moment of great pride” for India and its talent. However, despite being the first Indian actress to receive this prestigious accolade, the first Indian actor, despite his dual citizenship in the United States, to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was the Mysore-born Sabu Dastagir in 1960.
The spotlight is now on Deepika, a global ambassador of Indian cinema, in this moment of pride for Bollywood, India, and her fans worldwide.
Entertainment