The wage disparity between the actors and actresses has always been quite glaring in Bollywood. The men have always been paid more than their female counterparts in this male-dominated industry. While several actresses have come forward and spoken about it in the past, Deepika Padukone has succeeded in changing the game. She played the titular role in Padmaavat (previously titled Padmavati) alongside Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor and managed to draw the heftiest fee among the three.
The actress had found her foothold in the industry without any Godfather and now, she’s one of the most celebrated superstars of our country. Even the endless number of troubles that came her way after she agreed to be a part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s recent film couldn’t manage to shake her. DP stayed strong, composed and undeterred even when there was a bounty announced on her head by a politician or when Karni Sena wanted to chop off her nose.
Recently, during an interaction with India Today channel, she was asked if her parents were scared during these difficult times. She asserted that they always had “faith and belief” that she could take care of herself. She recollected an incident and shared:
“I was 14 or 15. I remember one evening, my family and I were walking down the street. We had probably finished eating at a restaurant. My sister and my father walked ahead and my mother and I were walking behind. And this man brushed past me. I could have, at that point, ignored, pretended like it didn’t happen. I turned back, followed this person, caught him by the collar – I was 14 – in the middle of the street slapped him and walked away. From that day on my parents knew that I could take care of myself.”
Anyone would be proud to have a strong daughter like you, Deepika!