What are the best Deepika Padukone Bollywood movies?

From her triumphant debut in Om Shanti Om to her Bhansali epic trilogy and box-office dominance with Pathaan, Deepika Padukone has become Bollywood's reigning queen. Which is her greatest performance?

Bajirao Mastani

Padukone's portrayal of the fierce warrior-poet Mastani in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic romance is widely considered her career-best — a commanding, emotionally devastating performance critics hailed as a modern masterpiece.

1/15

Piku

Playing the sharp, fiercely independent Piku opposite Amitabh Bachchan's hypochondriac father, Padukone earned her second Filmfare Best Actress award for a beautifully grounded, nuanced performance.

2/15

Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela

Padukone's passionate, fearless portrayal of the Juliet-inspired Leela in Bhansali's violent romantic epic won her first Filmfare Best Actress award and announced her arrival as Bollywood's defining dramatic actress.

3/15

Padmaavat

As the legendary Rajput queen Padmavati, Padukone delivered a stately, regal performance of extraordinary restraint and dignity in Bhansali's visually magnificent historical epic.

4/15

Om Shanti Om

In her Bollywood debut, Padukone dazzled in a dual role — as both a 1970s film star and her own reincarnation — bringing infectious charm and screen presence to Farah Khan's beloved masala blockbuster.

5/15

Cocktail

Playing the impulsive, free-spirited Veronica marked a breakthrough for Padukone, who shed her girl-next-door image to deliver a bold, emotionally complex performance that earned widespread critical praise.

6/15

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Padukone made the bookish, lovable Naina irresistible in this enormously popular coming-of-age romance, her chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor and natural warmth making the film a defining Bollywood hit of the decade.

7/15

Chhapaak

Padukone gave a raw, courageous performance as acid attack survivor Malti — physically transforming herself and carrying a deeply emotional true-story drama with remarkable sensitivity and conviction.

8/15

Tamasha

As Tara, the woman who sees the real 'Ved' beneath his societal mask, Padukone delivered a restrained, emotionally intelligent performance in Imtiaz Ali's unconventional romance about identity and self-discovery.

9/15

Gehraiyaan

Padukone gave one of her most mature and complex performances as a woman caught in a morally ambiguous love affair, exploring anxiety, desire, and self-deception with unflinching psychological depth.

10/15

Pathaan

Padukone's electrifying action star turn alongside Shah Rukh Khan in this blockbuster spy thriller became her highest-grossing release, earning over ₹10 billion and proving her command of big-screen action spectacle.

11/15

Chennai Express

Padukone's spirited comic performance as Meenamma — a Tamil girl opposite Shah Rukh Khan — made this action-comedy one of Bollywood's biggest ever hits and showcased her flair for physical comedy.

12/15

83

As Romi Dev, the supportive wife of cricket legend Kapil Dev, Padukone brought quiet grace and emotional warmth to the celebrated sports drama recreating India's historic 1983 World Cup victory.

13/15

Bachna Ae Haseeno

Padukone's emotionally charged portrayal of Radhika — a woman wronged and ultimately forgiving — was a powerful early performance that signaled she was far more than a glamorous newcomer.

14/15

Love Aaj Kal

In Imtiaz Ali's exploration of love across two eras, Padukone held her own in a role that showed her growing confidence in handling romantic complexity and emotional nuance.

15/15