Over 5000 Entries In, Deepika Padukone Gives Exciting Update On ‘Create With Me – OnSet Program’

Internationally acclaimed actor, producer, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate, Deepika Padukone has shared an update on her initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of creative professionals in the entertainment industy. Taking to social media, the actor posted a video and reflected on the intense process of reviewing applications for her Create With Me - OnSet Program, revealing that the past few months have been both demanding and inspiring.

Deepika captioned the video saying:

"It's been a gruelling 3 months! And the team and I were pleasantly surprised by the quality of applications we received and had to sieve through.
It was lovely speaking with soo many of you and getting to know you better...
Stay tuned to find out our first Cohort of the Create With Me - OnSet Program!
#CreateWithMe #OnsetProgram"

Watch the post here-

The update comes months after Deepika announced 'The OnSet Program' on her birthday - a new initiative designed to empower emerging talent and open doors for aspiring creatives in the industry. The programme is part of her broader Create With Me platform, which focuses on collaboration and nurturing authentic storytelling.

With the OnSet Program, Deepika aims to provide hands-on opportunities for individuals looking to build careers in the film and television ecosystem. Participants will be able to gain real-world experience across several departments, including writing, direction, camera, lighting, editing, sound design, art design, art direction, costume design, hair styling, make-up artistry, and production.

Sharing her vision earlier while launching the initiative, Deepika said that the idea stems from the overwhelming response she received when she first introduced Create With Me last year. She emphasised that enabling storytelling and supporting creative minds - from writers and directors to emerging producers - has become especially meaningful to her.

According to the actor, the OnSet Program is designed not just as a learning platform but also as a launchpad for promising talent, allowing participants to gain practical exposure while working closely with experienced professionals on real sets. The initiative also aims to create opportunities for individuals who already have relevant expertise to eventually lead their own projects.

The programme builds on the foundation laid last year when Deepika invited creators to collaborate through the Create With Deepika Padukone: Pitch Format, where participants could submit ideas ranging from creative concepts to content formats aligned with her vision.

By expanding the initiative into an on-ground training experience, the OnSet Program takes the collaboration a step further - offering aspiring technicians and creatives a chance to learn directly on professional sets under the guidance of seasoned industry experts.

With applications now reviewed after months of screening and conversations with candidates, Deepika has hinted that the first cohort of participants will be revealed soon, marking the next step in her effort to nurture and spotlight emerging creative talent in Indian entertainment.