Being An Athlete Has Made Me Unstoppable: Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone talks about how being an athlete has helped her immensely and made her unstoppable.

Deepika Padukone is a force to reckon with. While many speak about the laurels she has brought home as an actor, she still holds her athletic spirit very close to her heart. Deepika dreamt of being a badminton champion like her dad once, but gave it up halfway. She once admitted that had it not been for the faulty infrastructure, she might have continued with the sport.

Now, she endorses her father’s dream globally, the Olympic Gold Quest which works for providing the right facilities to every athlete who would be representing the country at the Olympics.

When I was growing up my father said to me, ‘To be the best, always remember the three D’s - Discipline, Dedication and Determination. Follow your heart. Do what you are passionate about.’ Sport has taught me how to handle failure. It has also taught me how to handle success. It has kept me grounded. It has taught me humility. Two years ago I struggled with depression.I was sinking. I almost gave up. But it was the athlete in me that gave me the strength to fight and never ever give up!

Deepika Padukone

“And so I want to say to every girl and every boy and every woman and every man...play a sport...because it changed my life...and it will change yours too! Sport has taught me how to survive! It has taught me how to fight! It has made me unstoppable,” revealed Deepika as she shot with an international sportswear brand to support their new campaign.

I used to be a badminton player myself, so I know what the athletes have to go through (in terms of infrastructure and coaching). I always felt that there is a need to create a proper infrastructure and support group for the Indian athletes. I had wanted to do something myself but then this opportunity came along. 

Deepika Padukone, Actor

I think the laurels that a sportsperson brings to the country are also a kind of development. Today, when we talk about America or Australia - these are the countries which are very, very popular in sports as well. So, it`s not only the economic, political or infrastructural development, even sports can put you up there on the world map.

Deepika Padukone, Actor 

Deepika also recalls her days when her favourite accessory to don was not a designer bracelet but a badminton racket in her interview with Vogue.

Even before I realised it had become a big part of me, I was playing badminton professionally. Only people who have experienced sports in some form really, truly understand the value of what it brings to your life. It teaches you about success and failure. Honestly, I didn’t have to keep up with it, but I know what it’s made me; the value it adds, the virtues and the qualities I have learned today as a human being because of being an athlete. If I didn’t have that experience, I think I would have turned out to be completely different.

Deepika Padukone, Actor 

Being an athlete and coming from a sports background, it’s important to be passionate about what you do. It’s important to go through the grind to get to the top. It makes you a better human being. And I think every woman in her way is unstoppable. To me, ‘unstoppable’ means to be fearless, to be able to listen to yourself, to be able to do what your heart tells you. If there is someone stopping you, it’s only yourself.

Deepika Padukone, Actor