The profound physicality of Deepika Padukone in movies as diverse as Gehraiyaan and Pathaan is a sight to behold. No mainstream actress has evolved like she has, but there’s a humanity about her performances that places her above her peers. Whether it’s a fragile portrait of contemporary womanhood trapped in a cycle of generational trauma and infidelity, or the shapeless body language of a disillusioned spy, Padukone infuses her roles with an emotional intelligence that’s rarely seen in Hindi cinema.
The Power List is NOT a ranking and is arranged alphabetically. For more information on the methodology, click here.