Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Deepika Padukone’s sponsored reel for Hilton crosses 1.9 billion views on Instagram.
Becomes the most-viewed reel globally, beating Ronaldo and Hardik Pandya’s posts.
The video is part of Hilton’s It Matters Where You Stay campaign.
Deepika’s next films include AA22xA6 with Allu Arjun and The Intern with Amitabh Bachchan.
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has shattered global social media records with a sponsored Instagram reel that recently hit 1.9 billion views, reportedly making it the most-watched reel on the platform.
This milestone places Deepika ahead of social media giants like Cristiano Ronaldo and Hardik Pandya, marking a historic moment not just for Padukone, but also for Indian celebrities on the global digital stage.
Deepika Padukone breaks record with most-viewed Instagram reel ever Getty Images
Is Deepika Padukone’s reel the most viewed on Instagram?
As of 5 August 2025, Deepika Padukone's promotional reel for Hilton Hotels has crossed a staggering 1.9 billion views on Instagram. The video, which is part of the hotel brand’s global campaign It Matters Where You Stay, features the actor in a luxury property, showcasing serene visuals and stylish aesthetics.
Shared just weeks ago, the reel has outperformed previous top-viewed videos, including Hardik Pandya x BGMI (1.6 billion views), Flex Your New Phone (1.4 billion), and even Ronaldo’s most viral post (over 500 million views).
Despite being a branded post, the engagement was immense, drawing over a million likes and thousands of comments. Fans flooded the post with reactions like, “1.9B views is no joke” and “Imagine hitting 2B with just a hotel ad.”
Why is Deepika Padukone’s Instagram presence so influential?
With over 80 million followers on Instagram, Deepika Padukone has long been among the most-followed Indian celebrities online. She uses her platform to share behind-the-scenes glimpses, fashion campaigns, work updates, and brand collaborations.
Deepika has worked with major global labels such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and now Hilton. Her strong international appeal, strategic content partnerships, and personal storytelling contribute to consistently high engagement on her posts.
The 1.9B-view reel shows how a well-placed brand collaboration, backed by a powerful celebrity with cross-cultural influence, can drive unprecedented visibility.
Deepika Padukone (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival) Getty Images for The Red Sea Int
What are fans and critics saying about the viral reel?
While the internet is buzzing with praise for Deepika’s digital dominance, not everyone is convinced all the engagement is organic. Some users noted the sharp difference between the reel’s views and its likes or comments, suggesting a strong ad push by Hilton.
One user wrote, “Not hating, but 1.9B views and just 1M likes? Looks like boosted reach.” Another added, “Still, Deepika is the face of this record. Even a brand-backed post needs star power to pull this off.”
The conversation online continues to split between admiration and scepticism, but there’s no denying the reel’s visibility and impact.
Comments under Deepika's reel Instagram Screengrab/deepikapadukone
What’s next for Deepika Padukone in 2025 and beyond?
On the professional front, Deepika Padukone is set to appear in AA22xA6, an ambitious sci-fi action drama directed by Atlee, co-starring Allu Arjun. She is also part of The Intern, opposite Amitabh Bachchan, a comedy-drama remake of the Hollywood film.
Earlier this year, she starred in Singham Again as DCP Shakti Shetty and made a powerful impression in Kalki 2898 AD. She is also rumoured to be part of King alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Abhishek Bachchan, as well as Brahmastra Part Two: Dev.
Deepika Padukone joins Allu Arjun in Atlee pan India epic AA22xA6 Youtube Screengrab/ Sun TV
Adding to her achievements, Deepika will be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2026, joining a select list of Indian film personalities to receive this global recognition.
Kylie Jenner’s crashing the party with her first big movie role ever.
Alexander Skarsgård and Rosanna Arquette add heavyweight acting talent.
Plot follows a pop star dealing with fame's intense pressures.
Director Aidan Zamiri’s taking his first swing at a feature film.
Planning for a 2026 release.
Charli XCX is swapping stadium lights for the cinema glow, and everyone’s already buzzing. Her new A24 film, The Moment, just dropped a cast list that has people talking. With Kylie Jenner and Alexander Skarsgård in the cast, this movie looks set to crash right through the usual pop star movie expectations. The promise is a look behind the sparkle, showing the mess, giving us the real underbelly of the music world.
Alexander Skarsgård joins Charli XCX’s star-packed film The Moment with Kylie Jenner Instagram Screengrab/kyliejenner/Getty Images
What’s the plot of The Moment?
It’s Charli playing, well, a pop star, trying to keep her head above water as she is sucked into the vortex of fame and pressure. She’s prepping for her first arena tour, dodging the industry sharks and probably a crisis or three. It’s all a bit meta here. Charli’s been through the whole thing already; the chaos, the lights, the late nights. She’s seen what fame looks like when the glitter fades. It started with Charli tossing out an idea, half-formed, then Aidan Zamiri and Bertie Brandes shaped it into something that actually breathes.
This cast is like someone spun a wheel of celebrities. Kylie Jenner’s making her big acting debut, Skarsgård and Arquette bring that serious actor energy, and then you have comedy geniuses Rachel Sennott and Kate Berlant to stir things up. Add in a squad of models, artists, and Charli’s long-time music partner A. G. Cook, who’s handling the soundtrack, obviously. Huge? That’s an understatement.
Behind the scenes of The Moment with Charli XCX and Kylie Jenner Instagram Screengrab/kyliejenner
When will The Moment be released?
2026 is the target, so we need to wait. They have got time to make it weird, wonderful, or both. Charli’s calling the shots under her Studio365 label, and you can tell. Every part of it seems to carry her touch: the look, the sound, the attitude. It’s a big jump for her, crossing into film like this. Whether it lands as something great or gets people arguing about it, it’s not going to slide by quietly.
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