Deepika Padukone reveals she was ‘told to get a boob job’ to score movie roles

The Bollywood superstar, who crossed over to Hollywood with xXx: Return of Xander Cage, has said in a new interview that she has encountered a worrying amount of sexism behind the scenes.

Speaking with ES magazine, she recalled: “There were lots of things I was advised [to do].

“To get a boob job, do the beauty pageants. They felt it was the right way to be recognised or picked up by a Bollywood director or producer.

“It might be an easier way to achieve what you want to achieve. But I haven’t been that person; I’ve always followed my gut.”

The star, who last year featured in the controversial Padmaavat, was also asked whether the #MeToo movement has made similar waves in Bollywood.

“We’re in the same position as the rest of the world, I think we’re all in this together,” she explained. “There’s so much more awareness.

“There are so many people who speak up and I think in the same way that we see the wheels moving in the right direction globally, I see the same thing happening in India as well.”

More Hollywood success should be in Deepika’s horizons now that the follow-up to xXx 3 has been confirmed.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage was only a moderate success in the US but it flew in other international territories.

Director DJ Caruso is back to helm the fourth instalment in the series, with Vin Diesel returning in the main role.

Padukone has not been officially confirmed for the cast, but Caruso told Express.co.uk last year that he would seek to have her aboard.

“All coming back,” he tweeted last summer, confirming “Oh yes” when asked if that included Padukone as Serena.

Ruby Rose, Nina Dobrev and Donnie Yen also starred.

xXx 4 does not currently have a release date.