In a candid discussion, Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has revealed the persistent stereotypes and colour bias she encountered while navigating Hollywood, stating she was often offered roles rooted in “outdated Indian clichés.”
MUMBAI – Despite her monumental success in Indian cinema, global star Deepika Padukone has spoken out about the limiting and often clichéd portrayals offered to her in Hollywood. The actor detailed her experiences with stereotyping and colour-based prejudice at a recent CNBC TV18 event.
Padukone, who made her Hollywood debut in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) alongside Vin Diesel, stated that the Western industry’s perception of India frequently felt narrow and outdated.
“I have experienced all those clichés firsthand, whether it has to do with casting, our accent, or the colour of my skin,” she revealed.
The actor explained that she was repeatedly presented with roles shaped by archaic perceptions rather than the modern, dynamic India she knows. This, she said, solidified her resolve to represent her country on her own terms.
“I was very clear about taking India to the world, but the India that I know,” Padukone explained. “Getting into Hollywood and doing certain things expected of us or that suit a global audience was something I never wanted to do.”
Her comments have sparked a wider conversation about the representation of South Asian actors in Western cinema and the ongoing struggle against deeply ingrained stereotypes and colour bias.
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