Bollywood’s biggest icons, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan, have set unmatched benchmarks as the most bankable stars. The Khans have dominated the industry, each amassing over ₹7000 crore globally. Their unparalleled success cements them as Bollywood’s most celebrated figures. However, one actress has outshined them all, crossing the ₹10,000-crore milestone at the global box office, setting a record even the Khans couldn’t surpass. And it is none other than Deepika Padukone!
Deepika Padukone, who debuted in Bollywood with Om Shanti Om (2007), has become one of Indian cinema’s most successful and highest-paid actresses. Starting her journey in the Kannada film industry, she has transitioned seamlessly to Bollywood, Hollywood, and pan-India cinema, delivering numerous hits across languages. With a prolific filmography, Deepika has surpassed even some of the country’s biggest male stars.
Over her 18-year career, her films have amassed a staggering ₹10,200 crore globally, including ₹8,000 crore from Indian releases and ₹2,200 crore from her Hollywood film XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. Deepika has risen to unparalleled heights, now reigning as India’s highest-grossing actor, surpassing both male and female stars. While many of her hits, like Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan and Kalki 2898 AD with Prabhas, were shared successes, she has also delivered massive hits like Padmaavat.
In 2023 and 2024, she starred in five films, with Pathaan, Jawan, and Kalki 2898 AD grossing over ₹1000 crore each, while Fighter and Singham Again added ₹300 crore each. With a ₹10,000-crore global box office total, she now leads ahead of Shah Rukh Khan (₹9000 crores), Akshay Kumar ( ₹8300 crores), Salman Khan (₹7500 crores), and Priyanka Chopra (₹6000 crore). More exciting is her much-awaited standalone film as Lady Singhan, the female cop who stormed into the world of all-male cop universe. With these cumulative figures, this definitely is an unmatchable feat for any star in India and proves that Deepika is the undisputed box office queen.