After the tremendous success of Om Shanti Om both in India and abroad, only one film starring Deepika was released the following year. In this film, her co-star was Ranbir Kapoor, who was already popular among the younger generation and also known to the older generation as the son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. He had already delivered several successful films.
The title of the film, Bachna Ae Haseeno, was taken from a popular old song, "Bachna Ae Haseeno, Lo Main Aa Gaya," which was catchy and appealing. During that period, numerous Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Asia, or Miss India winners were also making their debuts in films. It was believed that Bollywood had become a gathering place for beauties rather than a platform for acting talent.
In such a scenario, a sensitive actress like Deepika perhaps signaled a shift away from this glamorization, much like actresses such as Vidya Balan, who were leaning toward female-centric scripts. Both Ranbir and Deepika were appealing in the film, but it did not achieve significant success. It proved to be only moderately successful.
The following year, two of Deepika’s films were released: Chandni Chowk to China and Love Aaj Kal. In Chandni Chowk to China, Deepika had a dual role, and the film was released in both Hindi and Cantonese. Despite its interesting concept, the film failed to succeed. Moreover, the producer faced accusations of "misusing a talented actress" in this flop.
However, the film Love Aaj Kal, which was released the same year, became a hit, allowing Deepika to maintain her stardom. Deepika’s popularity was evident as she was cast in two other films in cameo roles: Billu and Main Aur Mrs. Khanna. There are various reasons for such guest appearances, such as when shooting is happening at a distant location, and another star happens to be nearby for another project. In the spirit of goodwill and courtesy, the filmmaker may include that star in their film, either by creating a small role or featuring them as a "film star."
Sometimes, a star develops a particular image, and if a sequence aligns with that image, they are brought in as a guest artist. Female stars often make cameo appearances for item numbers, where their image is capitalized on for a song.
The year 2010 was rather challenging and risky for Deepika Padukone. Five of her films were released that year, which shattered the perception that she was selectively picking only quality films. Only one of her films, Housefull, was a hit. The rest failed miserably. Karthik Calling Karthik and Break Ke Baad were flops, while Lafangey Parindey achieved below-average success. Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey completely bombed at the box office. No one could pinpoint the reason for the failure, despite the high cost and effort that went into it.
However, when a viewer walks out of the theater after watching a hit film, they don’t care about the actor’s other films. Thanks to the success of Housefull, Deepika's market value and public attention remained intact. Large-budget, ambitious films failing spectacularly often keep the associated stars in the limelight. Some stars reach a level where people are more interested in knowing "why they lost" than "who won." Deepika Padukone had reached such a status.
Deepika was compared to top actresses of her time, like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, and Vidya Balan. The following year also didn’t fare well for Deepika. In 2011, two of her films were released, both with vibrant and appealing titles. Aarakshan, with its title alone, touched upon a sensitive issue in the country. People were both for and against it. The topic had enough power to topple governments or bring someone to power. It made kings and broke them. However, the film didn’t succeed, adding another flop to Deepika’s career.
The second film that year was Desi Boyz, which had all the ingredients for a blockbuster, according to industry experts. But for unknown reasons, it too failed. The term "Desi Boyz" is a popular moniker for Indians abroad, originating from Indian minds and popularized by Indian tongues. Despite being a multi-starrer, the film didn’t make a profit.
During that year, Deepika also appeared as a guest in a song from the film Dum Maaro Dum. The title Dum Maaro Dum was taken from the iconic song of the same name from the Dev Anand-Zeenat Aman starrer Hare Rama Hare Krishna, a song that once catapulted Zeenat Aman to immense fame.
All in all, the situation for a talented actress like Deepika Padukone became concerning, as despite her powerful performances and considerable effort, her films weren’t performing satisfactorily. This is often the testing time for an actor. It can shake their self-confidence. But what matters is how strong you are from within, whether you can turn the tide of fate in your favor, and what mental strength you possess.
But after all, she was Deepika Padukone.
