Deepika Padukone takes her work very seriously; as an actor, entrepreneur, brand ambassador, and, most recently, designer. Discussing her first-ever collection for Pottery Barn, she reveals, “This is not one of those collaborations where the brand sends you ten things and says, ‘Okay, you just approve it, we’ll put your name on it, and we’ll sell it.’ This has truly been a collaboration, and I’ve worked on every piece.” The result? A timeless home furnishings collection with a distinct global Indian sensibility, complete with embroidered pillows, hand-knotted rugs in soft neutral tones, dinnerware formulated for Indian cuisines, and floral sculpted serveware—all of which are wholly and quintessentially DP.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn
For both Pottery Barn and Padukone, this creative collaboration was a long time coming. The globally acclaimed actor was brought on as a brand ambassador in December 2022, a few months after Pottery Barn was launched in India by Reliance Brands Limited. Padukone reflects on the synergy between both teams, saying, “I think we have a similar aesthetic and sensibility. It wasn’t easy, because they’re headquartered in California, and I’m based in India; there’s been a lot of back and forth, and it’s taken us a couple of years to put this together, but I think they have an amazing team.” She reveals that several initial meetings were dedicated solely to aligning their visions. “It was me sending them a whole bunch of references; things that I like and things that we should also stay away from, giving the design team direction. So yeah, it has truly been a collaborative process in that sense.”
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn
This is clear in the collection, which is a stunning manifestation of Padukone’s soft, timeless aesthetic. Inspired by her fondness for vintage designs and Indian motifs, the collection encompasses a range of textiles, decorative accessories, and entertaining and serveware pieces. Notably, the U.S. assortment features bedding, embroidered pillows, decor, and hand-knotted rugs, with textile designs presenting an elegant interpretation of traditional Indian patterns set against a palette of soothing neutrals and luxurious natural tones. Exclusive to India, the Middle East, and the Philippines, the collection extends to dinnerware and serveware characterised by floral sculpted details and an earthy aesthetic.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn
Padukone shares her personal highlight from the collection—the innovative, Pottery Barn take on katoris. “My biggest grouse with American crockery is that you never find small-sized bowls, right? They usually have big salad bowls or cereal bowls, which are great if you’re serving Western cuisine. But if you wanted to use that set for Indian food, it’s not practical for someone who wants to have a little dahi or dal. And so we created these smaller katoris. So that would be my favourite, because I think it’s the most practical for an Indian home.” Beyond the visual aesthetics of the collection, it is details like this, the smaller, seemingly invisible considerations, that make this a truly compelling collaboration.