Happy Birthday, Deepika Padukone. 34 Reasons Why We Love Her

A leading Bollywood actress, a former model, a fashionista, one who also runs an NGO, Deepika Padukone has never failed to win hearts. Deepika, who married Ranveer Singh in November 2018, turns 34 today. Deepika Padukone has several super successful films such as "Padmaavat," Piku and Bajirao Masatani to her credit. In 2019, Deepika featured in the Top 10 of Forbes India 100 Celebs List. As she turns a year older today, here's a pictorial tour of her life in Bollywood and otherwise so far.

This image was posted on Instagram by Deepika Padukone

Deepika, who is the daughter of famous badminton player Prakash Padukone, was born on January 5, 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark, where her father was training. Her family moved to Bangalore, when she was eleven-months-old. Deepika is of a Mangalorean origin and her mother tongue is Konkani. She also has a sister, Anisha, who is five years younger

However, she was not keen on pursuing a career as a badminton player and abandoned it to focus on her studies.

While in college, Deepika pursued a career in modelling. She was famously a Liril and Limca girl and is now popular in the ads for Nescafe, Fiama Di Wills, Pepsi, and Sony Cybershot.

Deepika followed up her hugely successful modelling career with an appearance in the music video for Himesh Reshammiya's Naam Hai Tera. Her first movie was Kannada film Aishwarya (2006) also featuring Upendra.

She made a dream debut in Bollywood opposite no less a person than Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om (2007) - the reincarnation and revenge themed blockbuster where she played '70s filmstar Shantipriya and the modern day Sandy, a look-alike of the dead actress.

Deepika's debut performance was well received, earning the actress the IIFA Awards' Best Debutant Award, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award as well as her first Filmfare Best Actress nomination.

Deepika next appeared in Siddharth Anand's Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) opposite Ranbir Kapoor, which was a hit.

In 2009, came Chandni Chowk To China, where she was paired opposite Akshay Kumar, the film was a major flop. She next starred in Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal (2009), opposite Saif Ali Khan. The film was one of the biggest hits of the year.

In 2010, she starred opposite Farhan Akhtar in Karthik Calling Karthik, which performed moderately well at the box office.

Deepika starred opposite Neil Nitin Mukesh in Lafangey Parindey (2010), in which she played a visually-impaired dancer.

She lost her heart to Akshay again in Housefull (2010). The movie was a hit at the box office.

Her next release in 2010 was Kunal Kohli's romantic flick Break Ke Baad, opposite Imran Khan. The film was not a commercial success but Deepika was praised for her acting prowess. Her final release in the same year was Ashutosh Gowarikar's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, in which she starred opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The movie turned out to be a flop at the box office, though Deepika once again won rave reviews for her acting.

Deepika's special dance number in Rohan Sippy's Dum Maaro Dum, co-starring Abhishek Bachchan and Bipasha Basu, was the talk of 2011.

The same year she won rave reviews for her portrayal as Amitabh Bachchan's daughter and Saif Ali Khan's love interest in Prakash Jha's Aarakshan. Next came Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz which did moderately well at the box office.

Deepika was the toast of 2012 for her performance in Homi Adajania's superhit movie Cocktail, where she starred opposite Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty. The actress earned glowing praise for her performance as the fun-loving, free spirited Veronica.

In 2013, Deepika proved herself to be the ultimate leading lady of Bollywood, featuring in four of the top-grossing productions of the year.

She collaborated with Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ameesha Patel and Anil Kapoor in Abbas-Mustan's Race 2, a sequel to the 2008 film Race. The movie went on to earn more than Rs 100 crores at the box office.

Ayan Mukerji's romantic comedy Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani was Deepika's next film release. Film critics praised her role of a shy and studious girl, much different from the kind of roles she had been doing till then. The movie was a major commercial success with a worldwide collection of more than Rs 250 crores.

She paired up with Shah Rukh Khan for the second time in Rohit Shetty's action-comedy film Chennai Express. Her role of a Tamil girl on the run from her father was well received by critics and audiences alike.

Chennai Express earned over Rs 300 crores in worldwide ticket sales.

Deepika continued her winning streak with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. She played a Gujarati girl based on the character of Juliet. Deepika's performance was well appreciated and the film earned over Rs 200 crores worldwide.

In 2014, Deepika's Kochadaiiyaan, in which she played the romantic interest of superstar Rajinikanth, did fairly well at the box office. As did Happy New Year, opposite Shah Rukh Khan, which turned out to be a blockbuster. She also received rave reviews for her performance in Homi Adajania's critically-acclaimed Finding Fanny in which she featured alongside Arjun Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah.

In 2015, Deepika was seen in Piku with megastar Amitabh Bachchan as a loving daughter and a career oriented woman.

Deepika was next seen in Imtiaz Ali's Tamasha with Ranbir Kapoor, which performed moderately well at the box office.

Deepika also appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani, opposite Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra. Bajirao Mastani raked in a whopping 100 crores in the second week of its release.

Deepika made her Hollywood debut in 2017 with xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Deepika plays Serena in the film headlined by Vin Diesel.

Deepika's only release in 2018 was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's embattled "Padmaavat," the release of which was postponed by a month. Deepika Padukone headlined the film's cast which also featured Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. "Padmaavat" released to a tumultuous response at the ticket window and its lifetime collection (in India) is Rs 302 crore.

The release of "Padmaavat" was opposed by several Rajput outfits and before the film's release death threats were issued against director Bhansali and Deepika too.

As of now Deepika has signed up for Meghna Gulzar's Chhapaak, which is based on acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

This image was posted on Instagram by Deepika Padukone

Deepika, who spoke about battling depression in an interview to NDTV in 2015, also started her own mental health foundation called Live Love Laugh. Her sister Anisha manages the foundation.

Deepika and Ranveer got married as per Konkani traditions in Lake Como, Italy on November 14 and a wedding ceremony as per Sindhi rituals was held the following day in the same place. Deepika and Ranveer's wedding took place in the presence of their respective families and teams. No Bollywood celebrities were invited to the do. Deepika and Ranveer celebrated their first wedding anniversary in 2019.

Deepika Padukone's first film after her wedding is all set to release on January 10. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Chhapaak is based on the life and experiences of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

Deepika will also star in sports drama '83, in which Ranveer Singh has been cast as Kapil Dev. Deepika plays Kapil Dev's wife Romi Dev.

Deepika will also co-star with Gully Boy actor Siddhant Chaturvedi in an upcoming Shakun Batra-directed movie.

Deepika Padukone has also been roped in to play the role of Draupadi in a fresh rendition of the Mahabharata, which will be made from Draupadi's perspective.

Here's wishing her a very happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead.

This image was posted on Instagram by Deepika Padukone