Yet again, in the bi-annual poll that diagnoses the nerve of the population, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone stand at the top spots as the Number 1 Hero-Heroine of the country by India Today’s Mood of the Nation poll. ‘Pushpa’ stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna emerge at the No. 3 spot in the No. 1 actor/actress stakes, but cannot dislodge the royals—Big B or Deepika Padukone who continue their reign, after the August 2024 Poll that had them at the same first spot. This is the first poll by the publication that figured in the factors from then till now February 2025.
Deepika, a name that commands instant recognition everytime, yet again marks her continued reign after 2023 and this year again, as the top actress of the country, polled twice.
Among actresses, Deepika Padukone continues to be the darling among respondents with Kalki 2898 AD’s global success & Singham Again’s Lady Singham striking the chords, while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who last appeared in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan films, jumped to No. 2. Kangana Ranaut is in at No. 4, with Emergency that releases. Rashmika Mandanna, takes the third spot with Pushpa.
Padukone stands not only as India’s foremost superstar but also as a distinguished global ambassador at the forefront, representing the country on an unparalleled International scale. She recently also made her first overseas appearance post motherhood at Cartier’s 25th anniversary celebration in Dubai as the global brand ambassador.
Looking at her box office reign, she has achieved an extraordinary global box office feat, her films cumulatively earning 10,000 crores with her body of work.
Basking in the success of her back to back hits, Deepika Padukone’s career is marked by unprecedented box office success, with films like Pathaan (₹1050.3 crores), Jawan (₹1150 crores), Fighter (₹337.2 crores), and Kalki (₹1200 crores) accumulating over ₹3680+ crores globally which have cemented her position as the top actress of the country.
