'I was starstruck, Shah Rukh Khan was there': Palak Tiwari recalls being tongue tied meeting Deepika Padukone for first time

Palak Tiwari has opened up about her long-standing admiration for Deepika Padukone, recalling a childhood encounter that left her completely tongue-tied, even with Shah Rukh Khan standing right beside them. Palak also spoke about her unconventional path in the entertainment industry. Let's learn more about it in detail.

Palak Tiwari says Deepika Padukone is 'just perfect'

In an interview with Variety India, Palak Tiwari did not hold back when asked about who inspires her the most in the film industry. Her answer was instant and unequivocal: Deepika Padukone. "I think she is a quintessential heroine, you know? She's just perfect," she said, adding that feeling speechless in Deepika's presence is entirely understandable.

Palak Tiwari recalls meeting Deepika Padukone for the first time

In the same interview, Palak Tiwari recalled her starstruck moment back to when she was just 12 years old, accompanying her mother, actress Shweta Tiwari, to the sets of 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', where Deepika was a guest promoting her 2014 film 'Happy New Year'.

In her own words, "When I was 12, I met her on the sets of 'Comedy Nights with Kapil'. I think she was promoting 'Happy New Year' (2014). To date, that is the first time in my life that I've been starstruck. And that's a huge thing to say because Shah Rukh Khan was right there, you know?"

She went on to describe the moment in hilarious detail and said, "I saw Deepika and went, 'Oh my God, she's ethereal!' I've wept my eyes out. She spoke to me as you would to a 12-year-old: 'Hi, I'm Deepika. What's your name?' And I was… [makes crying sounds]. And my mom told me, 'Say your name, stop embarrassing me!' I was stammering, but Deepika said, 'Palak, right? It's so nice to meet you.' And I kept weeping. I wish I could redo that. I would actually like to form words."

Palak Tiwari talks about carving her own path in Bollywood

Beyond the fan moment, Palak Tiwari also reflected on her distinct journey in the industry — one she has deliberately kept independent of comparisons. She said, "I think I'm trying to do things in a very new, fresh way. The more I try to emulate somebody, the less I'd relate to them. My journey has been rather peculiar because I started with a music video, and my mom's a star, but she's a television star."

The actress went on to add, "So it's a dichotomy of a couple of things. But finding my own way and not looking at anybody else's journey has really been life-saving to my sanity," she said.

Palak Tiwari on the work front

On the work front, Palak Tiwari is currently seen in a show titled 'Lukkhe'. She has made her debut on the streaming platform with the series.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”