Deepika Padukone To Pay ₹73 Lakh A Year For Maintenance Of Her Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star - Know About The Coveted Spot

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone made history by becoming the first Indian actress to be honoured with a prestigious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The announcement was made on Wednesday (July 3) at a press conference in Hollywood, with Deepika's name included among global heavyweights such as Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, and Sherri Shepherd, who are all set to be inducted in the upcoming year.

The recognition marks a milestone in Deepika's international journey, which includes her debut in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, appearances at global events like the Met Gala and Oscars.

While the announcement was met with immense joy from fans around the world, it also led to debates about whether stars can buy their way onto the Walk of Fame.

So, can celebrities purchase a star?

Contrary to popular belief, celebrities cannot buy a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The selection is made entirely by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's selection panel, which reviews hundreds of nominations every year before finalising the honorees.

However, once a celebrity is selected, there is a sponsorship fee of $85,000 (approximately Rs 73 lakh) that must be paid. This cost is not a bribe or a purchase, but a fee used to cover:

- The creation and installation of the star

- Long-term maintenance and upkeep of the star on Hollywood Boulevard

- Production of the official unveiling ceremony

As stated on the Walk of Fame’s official website, "The fee is used to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame."

Also, this amount is typically covered by the star's management, studio, record label, or fan clubs - not necessarily the celebrity themselves.

What is the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the most recognised landmarks in the entertainment world. Located along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles, it features more than 2,700 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. Each star honours a celebrity's contribution to film, television, music, radio, or live performance.

It is both a tourist attraction and a symbolic recognition of global cultural impact.

Deepika Padukone's Hollywood journey

In 2017, Deepika marked her Hollywood debut with xXx: Return of Xander Cage, in which she shared the screen with Vin Diesel. She has also grabbed eyeballs at the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival over the years.

Deepika has featured in TIME's 100 most influential people list as well, alongside some of the biggest names across the globe.

Deepika Padukone's upcoming projects in India

Meanwhile, on the work front, Deepika will be next seen in the second part of Kalki 2898 AD, co-starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and others. Besides, she was recently introduced as the lead in Allu Arjun's upcoming film, tentatively titled AA22xA6, which is being helmed by Jawan director Atlee.

According to media reports, Deepika will also be seen reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan in his upcoming film, King.