Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and Deepika Padukone, these only three Indian actors have succeeded in having cover stories written about them to date, despite the significant disparity. Deepika Padukone has brought honour to India by appearing on the international cover of TIME Magazine, which is one of the most powerful and well-respected publications in the world. With this, she not only joins the exclusive club of world leaders like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and a number of other well-known Western figures, but also Indian icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sachin Tendulkar, Sonia Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and a small number of others who served as the inspiration for global cover stories.
Ironically, a few other Indian actors have been listed in TIME, on lists like the TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World. but we all know that being on the TIME cover and having a TIME magazine cover story are incomparable. Being a visual representation of a list and having a comprehensive cover story on a personality are completely different things in journalism, making this feat even more exceptional and prized.
It’s fascinating to note that only three Indian actors have appeared on TIME’s global covers, which provide a detailed look at their endeavours and journeys. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who was dubbed ‘The New Face of Film’ and is credited with starting the invasion as Bollywood became more mainstream and cooler, led the way back in 2003.
Later in 2012, in acknowledgment of the influence of his television programme ‘Satyamev Jayate’ around the world and his own initiative to bring attention to important issues in Indian culture, Aamir Khan was pictured on the cover of the book ‘Khan’s Quest – Can An Actor Change the Nation.’ Deepika Padukone is the newest actor to appear on the TIME cover. India’s most popular and successful female celebrity, Deepika Padukone, has solidified her place as the nation’s first truly international ambassador with the TIME Magazine cover caption, ‘The Global Star – Deepika Padukone is bringing the World to Bollywood.’
The superstar created history by becoming the first actor to receive such a strong title and description from TIME. This was the first time that a major international media outlet acknowledged that the West was turning to India rather than the other way around.
