Deepika Padukone becomes first Indian actress on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Bollywood star to be honoured alongside Emily Blunt and Demi Moore
DUBAI: In a groundbreaking moment for Indian cinema, Deepika Padukone has been named among the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026.
With this recognition, she becomes the first Indian actress to be selected for the famed boulevard, which celebrates global achievements in entertainment.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce made the announcement on Wednesday at a press conference held at Ovation Hollywood. Deepika, whose success spans Bollywood and Hollywood, joins a distinguished list of 35 honourees from film, television, music, sports entertainment and live performance.
Celebrating the news, Deepika took to Instagram and shared a single-word story: “Gratitude.”
Star-studded 2026 class
Deepika’s name appears alongside Hollywood heavyweights such as Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Demi Moore and Rachel McAdams in the motion pictures category. Others in the 2026 list include Stanley Tucci, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rami Malek, Molly Ringwald, Noah Wyle, Gordon Ramsay, and basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal.
Special recognition will also be given posthumously to Italian special effects legend Carlo Rambaldi and director Tony Scott. The full list was selected from hundreds of nominations by a committee that met on June 20 and was later approved by the Chamber’s board on June 25.
Ceremony dates are yet to be announced. Recipients have up to two years from selection to schedule their star unveiling.
Deepika Padukone in Hollywood
Deepika made her Hollywood debut in 2017 with xXx: Return of Xander Cage, starring opposite Vin Diesel. Her presence quickly expanded on the global stage, featuring in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and Variety’s International Women’s Impact Report. She also gained acclaim through red carpet appearances at Cannes and the Met Gala.
Outside of acting, she has broken barriers in fashion, becoming the first Indian face of Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
In 2022, she unveiled the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar – a first for any Indian celebrity.
Indian roots, global reach
Despite her international recognition, Deepika continues to be one of the highest-paid and most successful female actors in India. Her recent work includes the blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan, and she is set to appear in its sequel. She will also feature in director Atlee’s upcoming film alongside Allu Arjun.
Born in Denmark and raised in Bengaluru, she began her film career with the Kannada film Aishwarya in 2006 and shot to fame with Om Shanti Om in 2007 opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The film was the highest-grossing Hindi release that year and earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Off-screen spotlight
Padukone is known for her advocacy on mental health through the LiveLoveLaugh Foundation. In 2024, she and her husband Ranveer Singh welcomed their daughter Dua. The name – meaning ‘prayer’ in Arabic – sparked debate on social media, which the couple navigated with grace.
Earlier, she drew attention for opposing corporate remarks endorsing a 90-hour work week, posting: “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters.”