Deepika Padukone Ranks Among IMDb’s Top Stars of 25 Years, Amid Controversies Over Big Exits
The actor reflects on her bold career choices as she secures fourth place on IMDb’s special 25-year list, even while headlines swirl about her departure from Spirit and Kalki 2.
On Tuesday, IMDb unveiled its much-anticipated special report, 25 Years of Indian Cinema (2000–2025), spotlighting the most popular Indian films and actors across the past quarter century. The study, which examined the top five most-viewed Indian titles from each year between January 1, 2000, and August 31, 2025, placed Deepika Padukone at fourth position among actors with the most popular films. Out of 130 movies analyzed, Deepika featured in 10, ranking ahead of Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ajay Devgn, Prabhas, and Alia Bhatt. Shah Rukh Khan led the list with 20 popular titles, while Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan followed with 11 each.
Reacting to the recognition, Deepika reflected on her journey and indirectly addressed the controversies over her recent exits. She said she had been told early on how a woman “must” navigate her career to succeed, but she chose instead to ask questions, challenge norms, and carve her own path. She emphasized that honesty, authenticity, and resilience have guided her choices, and that such values can create meaningful change in the industry.
The actor, who welcomed her first child with Ranveer Singh in 2024, added that the faith of her family, fans, and collaborators empowered her to make bold decisions — decisions she hopes will inspire future generations.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of speculation about her departure from two major projects. Production house Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed earlier this month that she would not be part of Kalki 2, citing the inability to find a sustainable “partnership.” Reports also suggest she walked away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit over conditions like limited working hours, profit sharing, and refusing to deliver Telugu dialogues, which reportedly did not align with the filmmaker’s expectations.
Some accounts claim she had already shot portions of Kalki 2 before quitting, objecting when her role was reduced to a cameo. Others point to requests for higher fees and specific working conditions as reasons for her exit.
Despite the controversies, Deepika continues to expand her slate. She will star alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King, which also features his daughter Suhana Khan, and is preparing for a major Telugu project with Allu Arjun directed by Atlee.
Her IMDb ranking, meanwhile, adds a powerful validation to her belief that choosing authenticity over conformity pays off in the long run.
