Deepika Padukone tops IMDb’s most viewed Indian stars list

Deepika Padukone topped internet movie database IMDb’s list of the ‘top 100 most viewed Indian stars of the decade’, beating Shah Rukh Khan to the top spot.

Khan was followed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt on the list, which is based on page views from IMDb’s 250 million monthly visitors between January 2014 to April 2024.

The late Irrfan came in fifth position, Aamir Khan sixth, the late Sushant Singh Rajput in seventh and Salman Khan in eighth.

Popular actors Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Katrina Kaif did not crack the top 10.

Padukone said she was “deeply grateful to be included in a list.”

“I’m deeply grateful to be included in a list that captures the sentiment of a global audience. IMDb stands as a beacon of credibility, reflecting the true pulse of people’s passion, interests, and preferences. This recognition is truly humbling and inspires me to continue connecting with and reciprocating the love I receive from audiences, both on and off screen, with authenticity and purpose,” Padukone said.

The top 10 actors on the list at a glance:

1. Deepika Padukone

Padukone debuted in ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007), and is noted for her roles in ‘Piku’ and ‘Padmaavat’. Her upcoming films include ‘Singham Again’ and ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.

2. Shah Rukh Khan

Known as the ‘Badshaah of Bollywood’, Khan is noted for essaying romantic roles in ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ and ‘Dil to Pagal Hai’, among others. His co-owned cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders won the latest edition of the Indian Premier League this month. He will be next seen in ‘Tiger Vs Pathaan’, sharing screen space with Salman Khan.

3. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya, who was crowned Miss World in 1994, debuted in ‘Iruvar’ (1997). She gained international fame with roles in both Bollywood and Hollywood, including ‘The Last Legion’, ‘Pink Panther 2’, and ‘Bride and Prejudice’. She is next set to appear in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thug Life’.

4. Alia Bhatt

Alia debuted in ‘Student of the Year’ (2012), and received critical acclaim for films including ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. She featured in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 and is venturing into production with ‘Jigra’.

5. Irrfan Khan (1967-2020)

A Padma Shri awardee, Khan was known for his outstanding performance across films, including ‘The Lunchbox’ and ‘Hindi Medium’. He began his Bollywood journey with Mira Nair’s ‘Salaam Bombay!’. His influential career ended with his death in 2020.

6. Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan is the ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ of Bollywood. He is known for his roles around social issues from education to gender equality. His recent works include ‘Dangal’ and ‘PK’. His next venture is the sequel to ‘Taare Zameen Par’, dubbed ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’.

7. Sushant Singh Rajput (1986-2020)

Rajput began his acting career in television, before making a significant impact with ‘Kai Po Che’ in 2013 and other films before his death in 2020.

8. Salman Khan

Fondly called the ‘Bhaijaan of Bollywood,’ Khan has been a part of the Hindi film industry for more than three decades. Some of his recent hits include ‘Dabangg 3’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Sultan’, and ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, among others. His upcoming film ‘Tiger Vs Pathaan’ with Shah Rukh Khan is highly anticipated.

9. Hrithik Roshan

Roshan debuted with ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’, and is known for the ‘Krrish’ series of films. His notable films include ‘Bang Bang’, ‘War’, ‘Vikram Vedha’, ‘Kaabil’ and ‘Fighter’, among others. He will be next seen in ‘War 2’.

10. Akshay Kumar

Known as the ‘Khiladi’ of Bollywood,’ Kumar has acted in more than 100 films in a career spanning more than three decade. The Padma Shri and National Film Award winner is known for not just his comedy and romantic roles in films like ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Dhadkan’, but for his movies on national and social issues, including, ‘Pad Man’, ‘Mission Mangal’, and ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’, among others. His upcoming projects include ‘Sarfira’, ‘Singham Again’, and ‘Sky Force’.