Badminton star Lakshya Sen recently endured a crushing defeat at the Paris Olympics 2024 , just missing out on the bronze medal in an intensely competitive tournament. Although the outcome was disappointing, Lakshya carved his name in history as the first Indian male shuttler to advance to the Olympic semifinals, an extraordinary milestone achieved under the mentorship of badminton legend Prakash Padukone . In a recent interview, Lakshya Sen disclosed that during this challenging period, it was none other than Prakash’s daughter, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone , who extended her support and offered words of comfort.
In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Lakshya opened up about the emotional aftermath of his Olympic journey. He shared that shortly after his defeat, Deepika Padukone called him to lift his spirits. Reflecting on the conversation, he recalled her encouraging words, saying, "She called me and said, 'It's fine; don't worry.
You did good.'" Deepika's gesture meant a lot to Sen, who admitted that the loss still weighs heavily on him, as he had hoped to bring home a medal for India. However, the young athlete expressed deep gratitude for the Padukone family's support, particularly highlighting Prakash Padukone's role in his life as both a mentor and a father figure.
Sen emphasized how valuable it is to have someone like Prakash Padukone to turn to for advice and encouragement. Alongside Deepika's encouraging message, Sen also recounted a recent encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Independence Day festivities, where athletes heading to the Paris Olympics were honored. As reported by IANS, Sen revealed that his coach, Prakash Padukone, had confiscated his mobile phone during the tournament to ensure he remained focused on his matches.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone, who is currently enjoying her pregnancy, has been spotted on several occasions with her family. Recently, she was seen dining out with her husband Ranveer Singh's family, including her father-in-law Jagjit Singh Bhavnani, mother-in-law Anju Bhavnani, and sister-in-law Ritika Bhavnani. During one of these outings, Deepika also posed for a photo with Lakshya Sen, further highlighting the close connection between them.
Pregnant Deepika Dines with In-Laws and Badminton Pro Lakshya Sen On the professional front, Deepika Padukone was last seen in Nag Ashwin's ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ earlier this year, sharing the screen with stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, and Disha Patani. She is now gearing up for her next big role in Rohit Shetty's highly anticipated film ‘Singham Again’, where she will portray ACP Shakti Shetty Bhalerao. The film, headlined by Ajay Devgn, boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor.
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