Deepika Padukone recalls the criticism she received for Om Shanti Om: My accent was made fun of

Deepika Padukone made her debut in 2007 alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. Since then, Deepika Padukone has come a long way. Deepika stepped into the world of entertainment with modeling. She then started auditioning and finally bagged Om Shanti Om at the age of 19. Back in the late 2000s, there were a lot of notions about models switching to acting. And despite making a successful debut, a lot was written off about Deepika Padukone. Yes, she was a newcomer but a young girl who was trying her hand at fulfilling her dreams.

“I was extremely raw and unaware, but Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan held my hand and guided me throughout the entire process,” she told India Today.

“There was also a section of people who scathingly criticised my work–Oh she is a model. she cannot act: My accent was made fun of. A lot was said and written about me and my craft, and, the truth is, all of it was extremely hurtful. When you are all of 21, these kind of brickbats most certainly affect you,” she said.

“Criticism fuels me. It fuels me to work harder, to improve my skills and evolve the various aspects of my craft. More importantly, it fuels my personal evolution. Failure, too, has taught me a lot. I have often been put down, even written off. But I have never been bitter about these experiences. In fact. I am grateful,” she added.