Historic moment: Deepika Padukone becomes first Indian to get Hollywood Walk of Fame star

In a historic first for Indian cinema, Deepika Padukone has been named one of the 2026 honourees for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. She becomes the first Indian actor to receive the honour, marking a major milestone for Indian talent in the global entertainment industry.

The announcement was made during a live press conference at Ovation Hollywood on Wednesday, where the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce revealed its list of inductees across categories such as motion pictures, television, recordings, live performance, and sports entertainment, Billboard reported. 

Deepika will be honoured alongside global celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Franco Nero, and Gordon Ramsay.

Other notable names in the 2026 class include actors Rami Malek, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Molly Ringwald, and Noah Wyle, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, and TV anchors Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, who will be honoured together.

Italian special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi and director Tony Scott will be posthumously recognised. 

Deepika made her Hollywood debut in 2017 with xXx: Return of Xander Cage opposite Vin Diesel. She quickly gained international acclaim, appearing in TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People and in Variety’s International Women’s Impact Report. Her appearances at Cannes and the Met Gala further solidified her reputation as a global cultural figure.

The 2026 inductees were selected from hundreds of nominations by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame selection panel during a meeting held on June 20. The final list was approved by the Chamber’s board of directors on June 25.

“We are excited to announce the newest selections of 35 esteemed individuals who will be enshrined on the Walk of Fame as part of the prestigious Class of 2026,” said Peter Roth, former Warner Bros. Television CEO and chairman of the selection committee. “These talented individuals have made significant contributions to the world of entertainment, and we are thrilled to honour them with this well-deserved recognition.” 

Beyond her film career, Deepika has become a global ambassador for Indian culture. In 2022, she became the first Indian to unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy during the final in Qatar—an honour few entertainers have achieved.

In fashion, she broke barriers as the first Indian face of global luxury brands Cartier and Louis Vuitton, setting a new standard for South Asian representation in high-end fashion. 

Despite her global success, Deepika remains one of the most successful and highest-paid female actors in Indian cinema. She was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD, Nag Ashwin’s pan-India blockbuster starring Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. She is also confirmed for the film’s sequel and has signed on for Atlee’s next project, tentatively titled AA22xA6, opposite Allu Arjun.

Deepika’s Hollywood Walk of Fame honour is not just a personal achievement—it marks a significant step forward for Indian representation in global entertainment. It highlights her trailblasing career and reaffirms India’s growing influence on the world stage. 

Deepika and her husband, actor Ranveer Singh, welcomed their daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, on September 8, 2024. The couple, who married in 2018, introduced their daughter to the world during Diwali with a heartfelt message: “Dua: meaning a prayer. Because she is the answer to our prayers. Our hearts are filled with love and gratitude.”