Nothing seems to dim Deepika Padukone’s radiant glow — not even controversies. Just hours after sparking headlines with her powerful remarks on Bollywood’s double standards, the actress was spotted at Mumbai’s Kalina airport, effortlessly turning heads with her boss-lady aura.
Dressed in a chic beige co-ord set, Deepika exuded elegance as she exited the General Aviation Terminal in Santacruz. Her signature sleek bun, oversized sunglasses, and warm wave to the paparazzi marked her first public appearance since her viral interview with CNBC-TV18.
In the interview, Deepika candidly addressed the criticism she faced for opting out of Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD after becoming a mother. She explained her preference for an 8-hour workday, a schedule many male stars have long followed without scrutiny. “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy, so be it,” she said. “Male superstars in this industry have been working 8 hours for years, and it’s never made headlines.”
Highlighting the industry’s systemic gender bias, she added that many women, especially new mothers, have adopted similar work routines but are rarely acknowledged. Deepika called for greater professionalism within Bollywood: “While it’s called an ‘industry,’ we’ve never really functioned like one. It’s extremely disorganized, and it’s about time we brought in proper systems and structure.”
On the professional front, Deepika is gearing up for King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan and recently wrapped its schedule in Poland. With its 2026 release, King is already among the year’s most anticipated projects.
With grace and grit, Deepika continues to redefine what it means to be a modern woman in cinema.
