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Deepika Padukone, who has been in the news for advocating fair working hours and equal pay, now says she has reached a point in her career where fame and money no longer drive her choices. After stepping away from two major projects opposite Baahubali star Prabhas, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and second iteration of Kalki, the actress shared that Rs 500-crore films no longer excite her.
Deepika Padukone, who has produced Chhapaak and 83 under KA Productions, explained her evolved approach to choosing work. “Anything that doesn’t feel true to me doesn’t cut it. Sometimes people offer a lot of money and think that’s enough, but it isn’t. And the reverse is also true—some things may not be commercially big, but I believe in the people or the message, and I’ll stand by it. Was I always this clear? Maybe not. But I’ve reached that clarity now. Do I sometimes look back and think, ‘What was I thinking?’ Of course. That’s part of learning. Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll question some of today’s choices. But right now, they feel honest.”
She said in a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Deepika said, “At this stage, it’s not about that anymore. It’s not about the Rs 100-crore films, or even the Rs 500–Rs 600 crore ones.”
She added, “What excites me is empowering other talent. My team and I are now focused on that—enabling storytelling and supporting other creative minds, writers, directors, and even new producers. That’s what feels meaningful to me now.”
One of Bollywood’s highest-paid actresses, Deepika recently spoke about the unhealthy glorification of overworking. “We have normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you’re healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one,” she said.
Earlier, Deepika Padukone exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD. Reports claimed she demanded equal pay and an eight-hour work shift for Spirit, and her departure from Kalki was speculated to be for similar reasons.
She is currently working with Shah Rukh Khan on his film King. While announcing her collaboration in King, Deepika had written, “The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success.” Many saw it as a dig at Vanga and Kalki 2898 AD makers. While announcing her exit from Nag Ashwin franchise, they had shared, “This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. After careful consideration, we have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. A film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works.”
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