Deepika Padukone Opens Up on Collective Global Success With Alia Bhatt and Ananya Panday

She said, “For the longest time, we as Indians have been so influenced by the rest of the world. I always questioned that. Why are we copying what’s happening elsewhere instead of leading? And as a talent, I never understood why we have to change who we are to fit someone else’s sensibility. If certain cinemas and talent from other parts of the world are accepted globally, why do we need to dilute ourselves? I see that as a lack of knowledge on the other side, not something wrong with us.”

Praising Ananya Panday and Alia Bhatt for their global brand deals, the actress continued, “For me, ‘global Indian’ is about being proud of who we are, not apologising for it, and taking that to the world. When Louis Vuitton put up those hoardings in LA with my campaign, I didn’t feel it was my personal victory. I felt we were finally being seen. And now, when I see Alia Bhatt with Gucci, Ananya Panday with Chanel, all these girls with global brands, it feels like we’ve arrived collectively. I feel proud of us, not just for me.”