As Deepika Padukone celebrated her 40th birthday on January 5, she received lots of wishes from fans, friends and colleagues from the film industry. Among the messages, a post from his longtime bodyguard Jalaluddin Sheikh surfaced, which featured a rare image of the actor and Sheikh together.

In the candid picture shared on social media, Deepika Padukone is seen laughing and at ease while Jalaluddin stands smiling next to her. The post immediately caught the attention of fans, who appreciated the rare glimpse of the actor’s interaction with his close team members.

Jalaluddin Sheikh shared the photo with a heartfelt message and wrote, “Wishing you many more on the day. May God bless you always.”

Here is the post:

Fans reacted enthusiastically to Deepika Padukone’s historic birthday, flooding social media with messages and heartfelt tributes. A fan wrote, “I don’t think I can really say anything. It was such a special moment #HappyBirthdayDeepikaPadukone.” Another wrote, “Happy Birthday to the most beautiful soul. 18th December, a day of gratitude with Deepika Padukone.”

Here are some reactions:

Ahead of her birthday, Deepika Padukone hosted a small pre-birthday event for her fans. The gathering was informal, giving the actress a chance to interact directly with her supporters and share thoughts about her life and career. Many attendees described the event as memorable and meaningful.

A fan page later posted, “From booking flights to big gift hampers and sharing your pre-birthday cake, you really made fans feel special. Thank you for the follow and love. #HappyBirthdayDeepikaPadukone.”

Apart from fan messages, many celebrities extended their good wishes. Sonam Kapoor shared an old picture on her Instagram stories on the occasion and wrote, “Happy Birthday Deepika.”

On the professional front, Deepika Padukone is preparing to collaborate with director Atlee in an upcoming action film, tentatively titled “AA22xA6” and starring Allu Arjun in the lead role.