Actress Deepika Padukone is nothing if not authentic. At least this is what excerpts from his recent interview indicate. In the interview, she emphasized that the choices she makes in her life and career today come from a sense of honesty and genuine connection, and that if something doesn’t feel authentic, she doesn’t pursue it.

talking to harper’s bazaar indiaPadukone shared that although she has been offered huge amounts of money for films in the past, she has tried to make more informed choices, choosing work that suits her true expression. When asked about non-negotiable things at work, she said, “The only non-negotiable thing is authenticity. Anything that I don’t believe to be true doesn’t cut it. Sometimes people offer a lot of money and think it’s enough, but it’s not. And the opposite is also true – some things may not be great commercially, but I believe in the people or the message, and I’ll stand by it.”

He said this clarity did not come overnight. The actress admitted that she may have had similar tendencies in the past, but they are still the same experiences that have intensified his conviction“Was I always this clear? Probably not, But now I’ve reached that clarity, Do I sometimes look back and think, ‘What was I thinking?’ Of course, That’s part of learning, Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll question some of the choices made today, But right now, they feel honest,” she explained,

Padukone said, an important part of staying true to yourself is to stop copying others. For Deepika, known globally as a modern Indian icon, authenticity becomes even more essential, especially when representing India on the world stage.

When asked what the “Global Indian” label means to her, she said, “It’s very simple: embracing your roots, your culture, your heritage. For the longest time, we Indians have been so influenced by the rest of the world. I always questioned this. Why are we copying what’s happening elsewhere instead of leading?”

The actor also stressed the importance of wearing one’s culture proudly, especially in a world driven by trends and constant reinvention. She said, “As a talent, I have never understood why we have to change our appearance to suit someone else’s sensibilities. If some theaters and talents from other parts of the world are accepted globally, why do we need to dilute ourselves? I see it as a lack of knowledge on the other side, not something wrong with us.”

“For me, ‘Global Indian’ means being proud of who we are, not apologizing for it, and taking it to the world,” he said.

Padukone also addressed in the same interview Ongoing debate regarding implementation of prescribed eight hours Workday for women, especially new moms, to support a better work-life balance.

She said, “We have normalized overwork. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you are healthy can you give your best. Putting a burnt-out person back into the system doesn’t help anyone. In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies. We should normalize bringing kids to work.”

The actor is now gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘King’, which also stars Shah Rukh Khan. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film marks her sixth full-length collaboration with SRK, with whom she made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with ‘Om Shanti Om’.