Bollywood star Deepika Padukone had a special reason to celebrate on Tuesday, June 10 — it was her father Prakash Padukone’s 70th birthday. And to mark the occasion, she shared some exciting news about their joint project, the Padukone School of Badminton (PSB).
In an Instagram post, Deepika revealed that their badminton school, launched just last year, is set to expand quickly. “As someone who grew up playing badminton, I’ve experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one’s life – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through Padukone School of Badminton (PSB), we hope to bring the joy and discipline of Badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport,” she wrote.
She added that the school will reach 75 centres within a year. The goal is to have 100 centres by the end of this year and grow to 250 centres in the next three years. While Deepika is the founder of the school, her father — one of India’s greatest badminton legends — is its mentor and adviser.
Deepika has often spoken about her early connection with badminton, having trained seriously during her childhood. But there came a moment when she chose a different path. She once shared, “I remember that one morning she woke up and she said, ‘Ma, I have been thinking about this for a long time now. I have been playing badminton only Papa wants me to but it’s not something that I enjoy doing and I seriously want to take up modeling and get into movies.’ I didn’t take her seriously and then she said, ‘I have been thinking about this for the past couple of nights. You wait and see, I will make you proud one day.'”
She started out with modeling and featured in advertisements and music videos, eventually making her Bollywood debut in 2007 with “Om Shanti Om” alongside Shah Rukh Khan.
Apart from films and sports, Deepika also runs The Live Love Laugh Foundation, a non-profit focused on mental health and emotional wellness.
She was recently in the news for reportedly walking out of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film “Spirit” due to disagreements over work hours and payment. However, she’s now part of a new big-budget sci-fi project, teaming up with her “Jawan” director Atlee and “Pushp” star Allu Arjun.
