Deepika to play mom in 'King ?': Fans quip, 'SRK ki, Suhana ki, Aaryan ki, sabki mummy banegi DP'

Deepika Padukone made her grand debut into the world of cinema with Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. Her debut became one of the most iconic launches in Bollywood history. Now, nearly two decades later, in what feels like a poetic reversal of roles, Deepika is set to play Suhana Khan’s on-screen mother in King, her first big-screen outing.

But while this might be a sweet, full-circle moment narratively, fans aren’t exactly celebrating. In fact, this latest casting news has triggered a wave of concern online, because this isn’t just one mother role for DP, it’s the fourth in less than three years.

A Pattern Begins: Four Moms and a Typecast

The concern didn’t start with King. In Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (2022), Deepika made a mysterious cameo as Ranbir Kapoor’s mother. Then came Jawan (2023), where she portrayed a powerful maternal figure opposite SRK. In Kalki 2898 AD (2024), she was again cast as a mother, this time to a pivotal mythological figure in a dystopian future.

Now, with King on the horizon, she’s once again donning the mom hat. This time for a gen-z debutante. That’s four mother roles in rapid succession. The trend is now impossible to ignore.

There is also criticism of the repetitiveness in her collaborations. The King project, once meant to be helmed by Sujoy Ghosh, is now in the hands of Siddharth Anand, who directed Deepika in Pathaan and Fighter. The recurring combinations, SRK, Sid Anand, action-heavy cameos are beginning to feel formulaic, even to the most loyal followers.

Fans React: Confused, Concerned, and a Little Heartbroken

Across social media platforms, fans have voiced their frustration and confusion. Some expressed it with humor, “Deepika in her mother era or “Suhana ki, Shah Rukh ki, Aryan ki... sabki mummy banegi DP”, while others were more pointed in their critique. Comments like “Stop this please”, “She is getting typecast now,” and “I wanna see her in dramas and romances again” underline a growing sentiment: fans are tired of seeing Deepika in secondary, mother-centric roles, often as extended cameos or supporting characters.

What’s particularly striking is the contrast between Deepika’s star power and the roles she’s now being given. This is an actress who once headlined genre-defining films like Piku, Tamasha, Ram Leela, and Padmaavat. Now, she’s frequently playing side role

Is Bollywood Quick to Typecast Its Leading Ladies?

It’s not the first time Bollywood has jumped the gun with typecasting women into maternal roles as soon as they reach their 30s or experience personal milestones like marriage or motherhood. What’s concerning here is how quickly Deepika, arguably in her prime and still among the top global faces of Indian cinema is being channeled into the “mother” space while her male contemporaries continue to headline romances and action sagas. Ironically, many of the actors she’s “mothered” on screen are her own peers or former co-stars in romantic pairings.

Adding another layer to this is Deepika’s recent transition into real-life motherhood. While that’s a deeply personal and joyful milestone, it also intersects with the roles she’s been offered and possibly, the ones she’s accepted.

That said, Deepika has always been a trend-breaker. From tackling mental health openly, to investing in diverse stories as a producer (Chhapaak, 83), she’s never been afraid to rewrite the rules. The hope is that these mother roles, however frequent are stepping stones rather than stop signs. After all, the emotional depth, strength, and gravitas she brings to these characters isn’t lost on anyone.

While this one's also said to be an extended cameo role, fans actually wait to see DP in a full-fledged, blown out role. The one where she can display her acting prowess yet again, experiment with her craft and if not anything, be the layered girl next door who can make thousands of them feel relatable out there. Because we have lived the peak DP era and a comeback is much -awaited where we are not talking cameos but we are talking 'main character energy'. As for her projects she will be a part of Kalki Part 2, but apart from that she hasn't announced any further projects yet.