Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 10: To mark the 70th birthday of her father and Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone made a heartfelt announcement highlighting a significant milestone for their joint initiative — the Padukone School of Badminton (PSB).
Sharing the news via Instagram, Deepika revealed that PSB has now established over 75 coaching centres across 18 cities in India, including Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Mysuru, Udaipur, Dehradun, and others. The initiative aims to democratize access to badminton coaching across the country.
In her message, Deepika expressed deep admiration for her father’s lifelong dedication to the sport:
“As someone who grew up playing badminton, I’ve experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one’s life — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through PSB, we hope to bring the joy and discipline of badminton to people from all walks of life… Happy 70th Birthday Pappa!”
She added that her father still “eats, sleeps, and breathes badminton,” and the initiative is a tribute to his unwavering passion.
The post was met with warm wishes, including a heart emoji from her husband, actor Ranveer Singh.
In the same press release, Prakash Padukone, who serves as Mentor and Advisor to PSB, emphasized the deeper values of sport:
“Sport is an integral part of growing up — it instills discipline, resilience, and a winning mindset that extends beyond the court. With PSB, we aim to make quality coaching accessible and nurture grassroots talent for the future of Indian badminton.”
The PSB initiative works through partnerships with schools and local venues, creating grassroots academies that feed into its High-Performance Centres of Excellence in Bengaluru, supporting long-term player development.