‘NO BETTER ROLE MODEL THAN MY FATHER’

Deepika Padukone says her father, exbadminton champion Prakash Padukone, put Indian sports “on the world map”; adds he is the “most selfless person” she has ever met

Actor Deepika Padukone had quite an emotional moment a few days ago. Her father, badminton legend Prakash Padukone, was honoured by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the actor couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw him receiving the award.

Deepika feels the honour was a special one, as it was her father’s first lifetime achievement award. “It was such an emotional moment; it was a really emotional day for all of us. It made me realise what an amazing athlete and human being he is — not just for his contribution to Indian badminton but to the world of sports too,” she says.

Does the actor remember the time when the senior Padukone was winning awards across the world? She says, “I must have been in a basket when my dad won a lot of awards. He was at the peak of his career when I was born, so they (father and mother, Ujjala) used to put me in a basket and take me around (the world).”

The actor feels her father has made a big contribution to sports in India. “He put India on the global map, and I feel so proud to see that all his efforts have been acknowledged. He is the most selfless person I have ever met. His only agenda — every single day — is to give back to the people and to the sport that has given him so much,” she says.

Deepika reveals that her team also loves the senior Padukone. “His radiance reflects in his personality. Since my team stays in touch with dad regarding my work, they always talk about him and say, ‘How cute is your father’. He is such a humble person and there is so much goodness in him that it all radiates. I don’t think my sister, Anisha, and I could have asked for a better role model than him,” she says.

On the work front, Deepika’s latest release, Padmaavat, has done really well at the box office and has also won her rave reviews. After such a high, what’s next? “The only way to go is ahead. Sometimes, you need to pause, think and reflect. But the endeavour is always to move forward. I have no idea how it is going to unfold,” she says.

The actor, who played Rani Padmavati in the film, admits that one “shouldn’t stop and reflect” too much. She explains, “There is a difference between pausing and stopping. I feel it is important to pause, think, reflect, and then move on. Hopefully, there is only one way to go in life, which is moving forward. In times like these (when one has tasted success), what my parents have always taught comes to me: ‘It is great to celebrate these times (success), but not for too long’.”

My father’s only agenda — every single day — is to give back to the people and to the sport that has given him so much. His radiance reflects in his personality. DEEPIKA PADUKONE, ACTOR