Deepika Padukone announced her return to Bollywood in a heartfelt social media post on Saturday, confirming she has signed a three-film deal with Yash Raj Films and will begin shooting a psychological thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar in January 2026. The film, tentatively titled Shadows, deals with the story of a forensic psychologist investigating a series of crimes, and marks the first collaboration between Padukone and Gulzar who is known for the acclaimed Raazi. Padukone has been on a maternity break since giving birth to daughter Dua Bhavnani Singh last year.
Padukone said motherhood has given her a new perspective and she is looking forward to bringing characters with greater depth and complexity to audiences. Her last appearance was in Fighter which was her highest-grossing solo release. The three-film YRF deal is reported to be worth Rs 150 crore, making Padukone the highest-paid female actor in Bollywood history. The announcement comes as Bollywood celebrates a historic year with multiple films crossing the Rs 500 crore mark, and women-led narratives increasingly dominating the box office conversation.