As usual, Deepika touched hearts with her simple yet moving speech about her father, her hero. The event in Bangalore was the launch of a premier sports facility, the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence. It is spearheaded by her father, Badminton champion, Prakash Padukone along with cricketer Rahul Dravid. Deepika was in attendance, along with beau Ranveer Singh, and sporting icons including Abhinav Bindra, Vishwanathan Anand, Geet Sethi and others.
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Expectedly, the actress had all gathered, hooked, as she shared insights into the personality of her father, Prakash, at the inaugural ceremony of the academy. “Today we want them to know what sets you apart from the rest,” she said, standing proudly on the dais. “Not once when growing up did Anisha and I feel you were a legend. We had the most normal upbringing. The magnitude of your achievement was never discussed. It wasn’t until the day that you took a very excited Anisha to meet her hockey idol, Dhanraj Pillai...and she vividly remembers him calling you ‘Sir’! And she still hasn’t gotten over it. I was a nervous wreck when I wanted to tell you that I didn’t want to pursue badminton, and that modelling and acting was what I wanted to do. But the ease with which you accepted her decision and encouraged me to follow my heart and passion, surprises me even today.”
The applause was heart-felt.
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Deepika is justifiably proud and positive about her father’s new collaborative venture with Rahul Dravid. She also posted a special photo on her social media account, captioning it, “Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence[PDCSE]—this is by far the BEST thing that could’ve happened to Indian Sport! Congratulations! #PrakashPadukone #RahulDravid#VivekKumar.”
The Centre is a world class sports facility that aims to promote and build a platform for Indian youngsters to excel in their field. Founded by Vivek Kumar, also the co-founder of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy and with co-chairmen being the great shuttler Prakash Padukone and former Indian Cricket Team captain Rahul Dravid, the CSE is a centre with internationally acclaimed facilities. It offers young Indian athletes a hassle free environment to develop and sharpen their skills. It also offers facilities, equipment and infrastructure to differently-abled athletes, to help hone their skills and simultaneously enhance rehabilitation and development.
