Deepika Padukone’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Comes at a Price: Here’s How Much It Costs

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark in Los Angeles, which features over 2,000 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. They were first permanently installed in 1960 and honour actors, musicians, directors and others from the global entertainment industry. Other celebrities with stars here include Demi Moore, Queen Latifah, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and Hugh Jackman.

The class of 2026, in which Deepika was named, also includes Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Rami Malek, and Rachel McAdams.

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While Deepika Padukone receiving this honour is worth taking note of, what most people may be unaware of is how much the celebrity has to pay for it. The process of getting a ‘star’ isn’t purely based on recognition or brilliance, but also has an associated cost that the celebrity has to bear.

Here’s how celebrities get a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

How Do Celebrities Get A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

According to the official website, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce reviews applications periodically for the star. Anyone, including fans, can nominate their favourite celebrities for the honour.

The application costs a $275 application fee (per submission every two years), which amounts to about INR 23,530.

The only requirement is that the nomination is accompanied by a letter certifying that the celebrity or his/her management is in agreement with the nomination. “If there is no letter of agreement included from the celebrity or his/her representative, the committee will not accept the application,” the website has added.

The nominations can be made across six different categories and mandate that a set of documents are attached with it.

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The criteria that the committee judges the nominees on are: “professional achievement, longevity in the category of five years or more, contributions to the community and the guarantee that the celebrity will attend the dedication ceremony if selected.”

Celebrities Pay About 75 Lakh for the Star

The Frequently Asked Questions section of the official website states that the cost associated with the honour is a whopping $85,000, which the celebrities have to pay after selection.

It explains the need for the money, saying that “The money is used to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as the maintenance of the Walk of Fame.” They added that this price is subject to change.

The cost in INR translates to about 75 lakhs.

Is Deepika the First Indian to Get a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star?

While many are celebrating Deepika’s star, saying she’s the first Indian to get the honour, that’s not quite true.

Sabu Dastagir, born in 1924 in Mysore, was an often overlooked actor who’d received the honour before her. He rose to fame through his roles in Hollywood during the 1930s and ’40s with well-known films like Elephant Boy, The Thief of Bagdad, and Jungle Book. Sabu had got this honour decades ago, in 1960.