Invited to speak at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone used the global platform to touch upon topics that empower women and destigmatise conversations surrounding mental health.
In conversation with American broadcaster Mika Brzezinski at the event on Friday, the Singham 3 actor shared her opinions on defining success and self-worth, and being an inspiration to women in India and across the world. When asked if her Instagram following of 80 million makes her feel proud, Padukone said that she does not want her success to be defined by numbers. “I hope we can get to a day when we don’t have to underline the fact that I’m Bollywood’s highest paid actress,” she told the audience.
Counselling psychologist Priyamvada Tendulkar shared that defining self-worth based on numbers—whether salary, rankings, or social metrics—can lead to chronic anxiety, imposter syndrome, and emotional dependence on external validation.
“From a psychological perspective, this urge may stem from early experiences where love or approval was conditional on achievement, reinforcing an unconscious belief that self-worth must be ‘earned’. In therapy, one would challenge the irrational belief that ‘I must be the best to be worthy’, helping individuals reframe success as multidimensional rather than a rigid metric,” she explained.
Tendulkar emphasised unconditional self-acceptance, encouraging people to derive worth from inner growth, relationships, and personal fulfilment rather than external validation. To shift this mindset, she suggested practising self-compassion, redefining success in intrinsic terms, and engaging in reflective practices that cultivate a stable sense of self beyond numbers.
For the event, Padukone chose a golden shimmery Sabyasachi ensemble with puffy sleeves and a bow tied at the neck, paired with black stiletto boots. Carefully tousled hair swept up in a bun, soft pink lips and blushed cheeks complemented her brown smokey eyes, and silver ear cuffs added a touch of edge to her glam.