Deepika Padukone is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema today, but her successful Bollywood journey did not happen overnight. Before making her debut in Om Shanti Om alongside Shah Rukh Khan, the actress underwent months of preparation and training. Recently, filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan shared interesting details about how she helped Deepika get ready for her first film.
Farah spoke about Deepika’s early days in Bollywood during a cooking vlog episode featuring actress Dia Mirza. During their conversation, Dia reflected on her own experience as a newcomer in the film industry. She revealed that when she entered Bollywood, she did not receive any formal acting workshops, dance lessons, or special training. Dia also recalled working extremely long hours and learning everything while already being on film sets.
Listening to Dia’s experience, Farah Khan pointed out how different Deepika Padukone’s preparation process had been before her debut. Farah explained that she wanted to ensure Deepika was fully ready before facing the camera. According to her, the actress spent several months improving her skills before filming even began.
Farah revealed that she first enrolled Deepika in acting classes conducted by veteran actor Anupam Kher. Deepika attended these sessions for nearly three to four months to better understand acting techniques and gain confidence in front of the camera. After that, Farah arranged Kathak dance training for her so she could improve her performance skills and body language.
The filmmaker also shared that extensive look tests were conducted before finalising Deepika’s appearance in the film. Every detail was carefully planned to ensure she looked perfect for the role of Shantipriya in Om Shanti Om.
One of the most interesting things Farah revealed was that she deliberately delayed Deepika’s shooting schedule by around 10 days. Instead of immediately asking her to perform scenes, Farah encouraged her to spend time on set and observe experienced actors at work. She told Deepika to watch how Shah Rukh Khan and Shreyas Talpade prepared for scenes, interacted with the crew, and handled the pressures of filming.
Farah believed that simply being present on set would help Deepika understand the working environment of a film production and learn valuable lessons from seasoned actors. This approach allowed the newcomer to become comfortable before stepping into the spotlight herself.
The hard work clearly paid off. Om Shanti Om became a massive success, and Deepika Padukone instantly became one of Bollywood’s most promising new stars. Today, nearly two decades later, she remains one of the industry’s most successful actresses, and Farah’s recent comments have given fans a glimpse into the dedication and preparation that helped launch her remarkable career.