Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, one of the industry’s most recognizable faces, has become the new voice of Meta AI across multiple countries.

Speaking at CNBC’s Global Leadership Summit, she shared candid reflections on being criticized for her accent early in her career.

At the summit, Deepika recalled the challenges she faced when she first entered Bollywood. She said,

“I am someone whose voice was sort of mocked when I came into the industry and now suddenly I am the voice of Meta AI. Strange! And my accent, but I continue to own it. I think that's probably how and why it happened.”

Her journey from receiving remarks about her voice to becoming the voice of cutting-edge AI technology highlights her resilience and growing influence beyond acting.

Thoughts on AI and human emotion

Deepika also spoke about the role of AI in entertainment and its limitations. She emphasized that while AI offers exciting possibilities, it cannot replicate human emotion or the depth of an actor’s performance.

“I am so excited about the possibilities, the only thing I believe it cannot replace is human emotion… you can't infuse soul into AI,” she added.

Her insights underline the unique qualities actors bring to storytelling that technology cannot duplicate.

Deepika began her career with Om Shanti Om (2007) opposite Shah Rukh Khan, directed by Farah Khan. She was last seen in Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty, starring alongside her husband, Ranveer Singh. Over the years, she has grown into one of Bollywood’s most versatile and influential actresses, now bridging the gap between cinema and technology.