Having made her Bollywood debut over 18 years ago with Om Shanti Om, Deepika Padukone has come a long way since. She has established herself as one of Bollywood's biggest stars, delivering multiple Rs 100 crore blockbusters and becoming one of the highest-paid actresses in the industry. But before making her Hindi film debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika had already impressed audiences with her first acting role in the Kannada film Aishwarya.How Aishwarya paved the way for Om Shanti OmDeepika made her acting debut in director Indrajit Lankesh's 2006 Kannada romantic drama Aishwarya, opposite Upendra. Looking back at that time during a recent podcast on Hindi Rush, the director said he immediately felt Deepika had everything needed to become a star.According to the filmmaker, Deepika stood out because of her confidence, screen presence and determination. He recalled that she had the height, personality and strong desire to prove herself, which made her the perfect choice for the film.Lankesh also revealed that Deepika agreed to do Aishwarya after hearing just a one-line narration. Their meeting was arranged by her then-manager, Pooja Dadlani, who now manages Shah Rukh Khan.The director said Aishwarya turned out to be a successful film, completing a 50-day run in theatres and generating considerable attention across Karnataka. He remembered that during Shah Rukh Khan's visit to Bengaluru, the actor was asked about the film's success. Recalling the moment, he said, "'I came to know it’s a big hit. That means I’ll have to pay her more.’ I was there as a journalist. I was laughing.""She didn’t look back. She was so focused and passionate, of course, just like her dad was on the badminton court. The passion and wanting to win came from her dad. So, there was Om Shanti Om and Bachna Ae Haseeno."How much did Deepika charge for Om Shanti Om?Soon after the success of Aishwarya, Deepika was cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om, which was released in 2007 and became one of the year's biggest hits.However, according to a Times of India report, Deepika did not charge any fee for the film. The report stated that she considered the opportunity to make her Bollywood debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan to be reward enough and chose to work on the project without taking a salary.The film introduced her to audiences across the country and quickly established her as one of the industry's most promising newcomers. Her portrayal of Shantipriya and Sandy won widespread appreciation, and the film has since achieved cult status.Director calls Deepika's career a 'case study'Looking at Deepika's journey, Lankesh described her rise in Bollywood as a "case study" in dedication and smart career choices.He said that some people become actors while others are born stars, and he always believed Deepika belonged to the second category. According to him, Shah Rukh Khan must have seen the same spark when he cast her in Om Shanti Om.The filmmaker also recalled Deepika's first day on the sets of Aishwarya. He said she appeared slightly nervous while performing opposite seasoned child actor Kishan, who was already familiar with the technical aspects of filmmaking. However, Lankesh explained that once she became comfortable in front of the camera, she quickly found her confidence and never looked back.He credited her success to her focus, discipline and willingness to keep improving. He also praised the way she handled career challenges, pointing to films like Cocktail as examples of bold choices that helped redefine her image.After Om Shanti Om, Deepika went on to headline several blockbuster films, including Love Aaj Kal, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express, Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela, Piku, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Pathaan, Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD. She is next expected to be seen alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King and opposite Allu Arjun in Atlee's upcoming action film Raaka. Stay tuned!