At the ongoing WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone shared the stage during a session titled The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler. The two superstars, who have shared a long professional history in Bollywood, spoke about their careers and personal lives, with Shah Rukh Khan sharing a heartfelt sentiment about Deepika’s future role as a mother.
During the session, Shah Rukh expressed his admiration for Deepika’s journey, and in a personal moment, he spoke about her new chapter in life. “I just want to add one more thing, which is very personal, so please excuse me if I’m stepping beyond boundaries. But I think the role she’s going to play the best, Inshallah, is that of a mother now with Dua. I think she’s really going to be a wonderful mother,” Shah Rukh said, acknowledging Deepika’s transition into motherhood.
Deepika and her husband, Ranveer Singh, welcomed their daughter, Dua, on September 8, 2024. The couple announced the name of their baby girl on Instagram a couple of months later, explaining that Dua means “a prayer” — a sentiment that holds deep meaning for the couple as they expressed their love and gratitude for their daughter.
The announcement of the name was accompanied by a photo of Dua’s tiny feet, a touching glimpse into the couple’s new journey as parents. Since her pregnancy announcement earlier in 2024, Deepika has been on a break from her work commitments to focus on her family.
At WAVES 2025, the star-studded event being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, many prominent Bollywood figures, including Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Akshay Kumar, graced the stage to celebrate India’s cultural and entertainment achievements.
Shah Rukh Khan’s warm words for Deepika were met with appreciation from the audience, showing his deep respect and affection for his co-star, both professionally and personally. Fans and attendees at the summit also praised the bond the two share, having worked together in massive hits like Pathaan and Om Shanti Om.