Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has shared a powerful story of transformation, revealing how the very voice and accent that were once mocked in her early career have now become her signature strength, culminating in her prestigious role as the voice of Meta's AI assistant.
From Industry Mockery to Meta AI
Speaking at the CNBC Global Leadership Summit, Deepika reflected on her remarkable journey. "I am someone whose voice was sort of mocked when I came into the industry, and now suddenly I am the voice of Meta AI — strange!" she revealed during the November 13, 2025 event.
The actor, who began her career facing criticism for her distinct speaking style, emphasized her conscious decision to embrace what made her different. "And my accent, but I continue to own it. I think that's probably how and why it happened," she stated, highlighting how self-acceptance turned what was once perceived as a flaw into her defining asset.
The Psychology Behind Owning Your Voice
Gurleen Baruah, existential psychotherapist at That Culture Thing, explains the profound psychological impact of embracing one's natural way of speaking. "It takes a lot of courage to own something that was once a source of shame," she tells indianexpress.com.
Baruah emphasizes that our voice carries much more than just words. "Our voice carries our history, our roots, the families and places we come from." When someone fully accepts their natural accent, they're essentially affirming their entire identity, which leads to confidence that's rooted in self-acceptance rather than performance.
The therapist notes that this acceptance marks a crucial turning point where what was once considered a weakness transforms into what she describes as "signature style" – a unique characteristic that sets individuals apart in the most authentic way.
Human Emotion vs Artificial Intelligence
Beyond her personal journey, Deepika also shared her insights on artificial intelligence and its expanding role in creative fields. While expressing excitement about AI's possibilities, she drew a clear boundary about its limitations.
"The only thing I believe it cannot replace is human emotion," the actor asserted. "I think that is the only place where AI will not be allowed or will not be able to match up. Barring human emotion and how an actor would emote, because you can't infuse soul into AI."
Baruah elaborates on this distinction, explaining that while AI can mimic human speech patterns, it lacks the essential human experience. "AI can sound human, but it can't feel human," she stresses, pointing out that genuine human voices contain breath patterns, pauses, and subtle tremors that reflect lived experiences.
These vocal characteristics, born from our nervous systems and personal histories, create what Baruah describes as the "soul" of human communication – a presence that simply cannot be programmed into artificial intelligence, no matter how advanced the technology becomes.
Creating Inclusive Spaces for Diverse Voices
The conversation naturally extends to workplace environments and how they can become more welcoming of diverse speech patterns. Baruah suggests that organizations need to move beyond the notion of a single "neutral" or "standard" way of speaking.
She explains that when people feel pressured to mask their natural accents, it creates "quiet shame and distance from self," ultimately hindering their ability to contribute authentically.
Simple organizational changes can make significant differences, according to the expert. These include conducting awareness sessions about communication biases, celebrating linguistic diversity, and having leaders who are mindful about interrupting or correcting people for "sounding different."
When workplaces embrace this inclusive approach, Baruah concludes, they unlock greater honesty, creativity, and genuine connection – qualities that no artificially polished accent or advanced technology can ever truly replicate.
