Dear Deepika Padukone,
Let us just start by saying that you're fabulous. You really are. From being the girl that the world fell in love with in Om Shanti Om, to being the girl that the world now looks up to for several reasons (most recently, the bravery you showed through the "Padmaavat" controversy), you really have come a long way. From the way you openly spoke about your struggle with depression to showing the world that hard work and perseverance can get you anywhere, there's so much to love and admire about you. Did we mention that we also love how elegantly and gracefully you carry yourself everywhere you go? Oh ya, you do India proud.
Given all the praise that comes your way and all the love and admiration people have for you, it's natural that fans everywhere expect only the best from you. Even in terms of style. You seem to get it right most times, faltering seldom as far as your outfits go. Last night at the Time 100 Gala, you showed up in a gorgeous Anamika Khanna outfit. Pan up from the bottom and you get to see beautiful and intricate embroidery and some 3D floral attachments on the garment that some would call a saree-gown. Your sweetheart neck blouse with a giant ruffle on one shoulder had us waiting with bated breath for the new and fresh makeup look and hair that we were going to see on you. But alas, pan all the way up and we couldn't help but gasp and sigh a little. And we assure you, it was not in relief.
Oh, Deepika, after all the anticipation that kept people checking their Instagram feeds constantly to see what you were going to look like as you walked down that red carpet, that hair, that same old middle-parted slicked-down ponytail, it broke our hearts a little.
We might have been able to ignore the hair had it not been for the fact that it seemed like we had actually seen the entire look before. Then it dawned on us just where. Only a few days ago we saw you walk down the runway at 'The Walk of Mijwan' fashion show in a Manish Malhotra creation. The garment was beautiful in its own way, but oh so similar to the Anamika Khanna one you wore last night. The hair (obviously), the makeup and even the emerald drop earrings were freakishly similar. The drape of both garments fell beautifully, but similarly from one shoulder. And of course, the hair, although some could say that the parting was a wee bit off centre in this case, was tied up in the same old plastered down ponytail.
We might have even ignored this had you not teased us with that resplendently stunning and avant garde look you pulled off at the airport on your way to New York. Just look at that outfit - and that hair. Flowing beautifully. Sigh.
We've seen this hairdo on you way too many times now. And we aren't alone in complaining that we are utterly, utterly bored. While many on the Internet are putting the blame solely on your stylist Shaleena Nathani, we like to think that you call the ultimate shots in how you look. No matter what we might think, though, Shaleena Nathani's Instagram posts have been inundated with criticism for how she chose to dress you and especially how she always chooses for you to have the same hairstyle. There are also pleas for a change in hairdo. The frustration of these fans seems pretty real.
Oops, see what we mean?
This isn't the first time Shaleena has been called out on social media for under-experimenting with your style. She was begged to give you a new look a few months ago - do her a favour, and your fans, and us.
Here are some other times (other than the two above) that you've worn your hair exactly like this. The parting was a little differently placed at times and the ponytail was sometimes replaced by a bun. But more or less, your hair looked same old, same old. We're sharing this with love and in the hope that we get to see your flowing tresses let down more often.
Deepika, make no mistake - you look like a million bucks even with this severely-parted, glued-down sleek hair. But frankly, we're just bored.
Yours sincerely,
Fans everywhere
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world