06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Deepika Padukone to get Hollywood Walk of Fame star; how much does it cost?
Deepika Padukone recently hit headlines for becoming the first Indian actress to be chosen for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Her name was announced along with other renowned personalities from the world of entertainment.
The announcement raised some eyebrows — many wondered whether her name deserves to be etched in stone alongside well-known actresses like Emily Blunt and Marion Cotillard. Deepika might be an A-lister in the Indian moviedom, however, she has only one international project to her credit — 'XXX: Return of Xander Cage'.
The 39-year-old actress and other honorees this year were selected by the Walk of Fame selection panel from "hundreds" of nominations at a meeting on June 20. But how did she become eligible in the first place?
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Nomination
Turns out, anyone can nominate their favourite celebrity with their permission by filling the Walk Of Fame Nomination Form on their official website, as long as the celebrity or his/her management is in agreement with the nomination. A letter of agreement needs to be submitted, according to the official Walk of Fame website.
There are 6 categories in which celebrities can be nominated:
The criteria for receiving a star includes: professional achievement, longevity in the category of five years or more, contributions to the community and the guarantee that the celebrity will attend the dedication ceremony if selected. The recipient has up to two years to schedule their ceremony.
After the Walk of Fame Selection Committee has made its selections, the Hollywood Chamber's Board of Directors also votes to approve the star. For a final approval, the names are submitted to the City of Los Angeles' Board of Public Works Department.
The committee receives an average of two hundred applications a year. Stars are voted in once a year in June. An average of 24-30 stars are selected per year.
How much does a star cost?
There is a $85,000 (Dh312,215 approx) sponsorship fee upon selection. The fee is used to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame.
Deepika's name being selected this year is of particular significance for the Indian film industry, as she becomes the first Indian actress to achieve such this honour. The only Indian name before her on the Walk of Fame was Sabu Dastagir, who earned his star in 1960. Sabu Dastagir worked mostly in the US and Britain and died at the age of 39.
