Deepika Padukone has achieved remarkable success in various aspects of the entertainment industry. From delivering consecutive blockbusters to endorsing international brands, venturing into production, and establishing her own brand, Deepika’s accomplishments are extensive despite her young age of 37. So, it usually comes as a shock to find that she completed her high school but did not pursue further formal education. Now, in a resurfaced interview Deepika laments why she quit school after grade 12.

While Deepika Padukone did attend Anupam Kher’s acting school and completed a diploma course there, she did not continue with higher studies. In an older interview, she shared her thoughts on this decision and also recounted her parents’ initial reactions.

In a video from the book launch event of Hema Malini’s biography, “Beyond The Dream Girl,” in 2017, Deepika Padukone spoke about her sacrifices and discussed her educational background. She opened up about why she couldn’t pursue higher education beyond 12th grade. At the event, she wore an elegant red Benarasi saree along with gold jewelry, exuding glamour.

During the event, Deepika acknowledged that her dedication and sacrifices played a pivotal role in her current success. She candidly revealed that she holds only a 12th-grade education and had to forgo college to pursue her career. She explained, “You know like I said there are sacrifices. You have to be extremely dedicated. For example, I haven’t gone to college.”

Deepika Padukone further elaborated that due to her ascent as a model, managing her studies became challenging. Despite being based in Bangalore, she frequently traveled to Mumbai and Delhi for work, making it difficult to maintain her education.

She shared, “I finished my 11th and 12th. And even during my 11th and 12th, I just about managed to finish because I was already a very successful model by that time and I was based in Bangalore. But I used to keep travelling to Mumbai and Delhi for work. And I couldn’t keep up.”

In the same conversation, Deepika Padukone revealed that she attempted to pursue a degree through distance education but was unable to complete it. Consequently, she had to relinquish the idea of pursuing further formal education. Initially, her parents were apprehensive about her decision, as they wanted her to have a basic degree before embarking on her career. Eventually, they came to understand her passion for acting, which led them to support her.

In her own words, Deepika shared, “I tried to do one year of my degree through college. I couldn’t do that. Then I tried to do distance education. I couldn’t complete that as well. So, I am just a 12th pass. My parents had a big issue with that ‘they always wanted me to start working only after a basic degree. But along the way they realised how passionate I was about what I wanted to do. And I think I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did without their support.”

Did you know that Deepika Padukone had to choose her career over her education?