Before Deepika Padukone became a Bollywood superstar, captivating audiences with her performances in films like "Om Shanti Om", "Padmaavat", and "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani," she graced television screens in a completely different avatar. A recent resurfacing of an old advertisement has reminded fans of Padukone's humble beginnings, showcasing her in a 2004 Close-Up toothpaste commercial.
The advertisement features a young Deepika Padukone dancing energetically in a bathroom, alongside an animated tube of Close-Up toothpaste. This early appearance offered a glimpse of the charisma and screen presence that would later make her a household name. Before her Bollywood debut in "Om Shanti Om" in 2007, Padukone appeared in various TV ads and walked the runway at fashion events.
Born in Copenhagen and raised in Bangalore, Deepika Padukone is the daughter of badminton player Prakash Padukone. As a teenager, she actively played badminton at the national level, but she gave up the sport at 16 to pursue a career in modeling. In 2004, while she was studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, Padukone dropped out to pursue her modeling career. In 2005, she won the Model of the Year award at the Kingfisher Fashion Awards.
Before making her mark in Bollywood, Padukone appeared in several commercials for well-known brands. These included ads for Limca, Liril soap, and various clothing and sari brands. In the Limca ad, she is seen dancing in the rain and jumping in puddles while sipping the soft drink. These ads helped her become a familiar face in Indian households. In 2006, she appeared in Himesh Reshammiya's music video "Naam Hai Tera", which further boosted her popularity.
Padukone's Bollywood journey began with "Om Shanti Om" in 2007, where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Although she had a successful start, she faced a brief setback before "Cocktail" (2012) marked a turning point in her career. She then delivered a string of hits, including "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and "Chennai Express" in 2013.
Today, Deepika Padukone is known as an internationally acclaimed actor, fashion icon, and mental health ambassador. Her early work in commercials like the Close-Up ad provided a foundation for her successful career. The resurfaced Close-Up advertisement not only offers a nostalgic look at Padukone's early career but also highlights her journey from a young model to one of Bollywood's most prominent figures. It serves as a reminder that even the biggest stars often have humble beginnings.