Deepika Padukone has evolved as an actress over the years and so has her dancing. The leggy lass has proved her versatility and range in dance numbers with numbers based on traditional Gujarati and Indian classical to cabaret.
We celebrate Padukone's 32nd birthday with our pick of her top 5 on screen dance performances.
1) 'Dhoom Tana' – Om Shanti Om (2007)
Director and choreographer of Om Shanti Om, Farah Khan, made sure that she gave Padukone, a good opportunity to showcase her dancing skills in the latter's first film itself.
Set in the 1980s, the song, 'Dhoom Tana', features various dancing styles — from classical to caberet and quintessential filmi style thumkas — but mostly in broad strokes and simple steps. Nonetheless, Padukone is very confident, accompanied by the energetic superstar Shah Rukh Khan. For her first big dance number, she charms with her dimpled smile and rawness.
2) 'Nagada Sang Dhol' – Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)
One of the most popular garba numbers in Hindi cinema from the last decade, 'Nagada Sang Dhol' from Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela brought out the best in Padukone. The actress trained with professional Garba dancers from Gujarat to perfect her moves.
Choreographed by Samir and Arsh Tanna, the song had some heavy duty traditional dance moves set to high tempo dhol beats. Add to that the bright red colours, the vengeance and intensity in Padukone's eyes. This dance performance becomes one of her all-time bests.
3) 'Lovely' – Happy New Year (2014)
'Lovely' from was a quintessential item song, with Padukone at her seductive best. She does the sexy and entertaining act, full with thumkas and hip movements, with lots of style. Despite not being a great composition, Padukone made 'Lovely' memorable with her sheer presence.
4) 'Deewani Mastani' – Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s vision to blend the grand golden set, lilting music, exquisite outfits and graceful moves worked wonders in this song.
Apart from looking like a dream, Padukone also moves like one from the moment she makes a grand entry into the palace. The graceful dance steps, beautiful group formations, and the swaying movements of the ghagra to the melody, interspersed with reactions from Bajirao, Mastani and Kashibai. All the elements just came together to make 'Deewani Mastani' a delightful watch.
5) 'Ghoomar' – Padmavati (to be released in 2018)
With help from Ghoomar expert Jyothi D Tomma, Padukone slipped right into the traditional ghoomar dance.
Choreographed by Kruti Mahesh Midya, who has previously assisted Remo D’Souza, the movements of the song are not exceptional, but definitely not easy either. Padukone though looks comfortable in her skin, adding a lot of ease to the dance steps. Bhansali, yet again, gives Padukone the opportunity to try a new dance form and she lives up to it too.