1.9B Views! Deepika Padukone’s Reel Beats Ronaldo & Pandya

In an event now branded a historic moment on social media, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has broken world records with one of her recent Instagram reels becoming the most viewed reel in the world just shy of a staggering 1.9 billion views.

The reel was shared earlier this year as part of a promotional campaign for Hilton Hotels and, after reaching success on Instagram, it went onto become viral across platforms. The engagement behind this was unimaginable, it has drawn more views than even many of the most globally followed celebrities reach and positioned Padukone among the most engaged users on Instagram today.

What’s in the Reel That Made It So Popular?

The video is pretty straightforward, modern, and visually stunning. In the footage, Deepika can be seen enjoying a fancy trip and staying at a Hilton Hotel location. The video is devoid of dialogue, special effects, and big moments typical of today’s cinema. Instead, it’s almost all visuals - Padukone laying down beside the a pool, walking through a bright suite, sipping some coffee, and demonstrating what a relaxed high-end hotel stay looks like.

Yes, the video is branded, but it does not come across as an add like so many others. The video feels clean and looks natural. The focus is not on a hard sell, but on the experience, and that seems to resonate with the audience.

Reason Why This Particular Reel Got a Lot of Attention: 

Deepika's reel is part of Hilton's worldwide branding campaign, "It Matters Where You Stay". However, while certainly recognizable with celebrity, this individual video connected with people at a deeper emotional and aspirational level, that's what makes it impactful.

Here are some reasons why the reel probably blew up's 

a) Global Reach - Deepika has over 80 million followers on IG, and her fan base extends outside of India, to North America, Western Europe, and the Middle East. 
b) Visual Calm - In a fast content world, the reel delivered a moment of calm and luxury. 
c) Subtle Branded Content - This reel did not feel like an ad and therefore generated organic engagement.
d) Timed Posting - the video came out at the beginning of the travel season, aligning with the content.

Breaking Records on a Global Scale

Prior to Deepika, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya occupied the top consumption spots on Instagram's most-rejected list. Hardik had the previous record of over 1.6 billion views in a viral reel.

Now Deepika's Hilton reel is solidly outperforming those numbers. As being reported by many news channels, and according to Instagram's official analytics, no other reel has ever received anywhere near the same level of consumption in a comparable time frame.

The reel received even more clicks in terms of media coverage, with NDTV, Hindustan Times, and The Hindu logging the historic reel. Although the would-be reach in likes and comments seem modest in comparison to the purported consumption, marketing experts would tell you this is typical of reels with large shares via explore page and/or third-party embeds looped.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by दीपिका पादुकोण (@deepikapadukone)

A Big Win for Indian Celebrities on Global Platforms

Not only is this record a big deal for Padukone, but also for Indian entertainment figures overall. Up until now, Instagram's most viewed content is very rarely from a film actor or actress, but has mainly been recorded by sports stars, Western music performers, and virals. With this record, Deepika is the first Indian actor to hold the world title for Instagram's most viewed reel. 

Padukone's induction as the first Indian female actor to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026 was recently announced, and this new information follows that historic achievement.

This dual accomplishment marks a fierce turning point now that Indian films, luxury brands, and global presence all line-up.

Reactions and Conversations on Social Media

While fans were celebrating her achievement on many platforms, the reel also evoked discussions amongst marketing professionals. Some questioned the view count, since it seemed to balloon rapidly in view count while having a relatively lower number of likes. However, some marketing practitioners suggested this viewing success is really just a blend of several things: Star power, a well-known brand, and the algorithm reacting to great, high-quality content.

Users across Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit were chiming in.

• "How is a Hilton ad the most watched reel in the world? Only Deepika can make that happen." 
• "This is that type of influencer content that works and does not feel like an 'ad' at all."
• "Global star, global success. Nobody is surprised."

🚨Breaking News : Now Deepika Padukone holds the world’s most viewed reel, surpassing Hardik Pandya🚨

D.Padukone - 1.9 Billion
H.Pandya - 1.6 Billion 💔 pic.twitter.com/iwWRIH4yRK

— Nenu (@Nenu_yedavani) August 4, 2025

What Lies Ahead for Deepika?

Professionally, Padukone continues to be one of the busiest and most sought-after actors in the Indian film industry. She recently appeared in Singham Again and Kalki 2898 AD, which earned a spot as two of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025. 

She is also involved with a new sci-fi project with her film industry contemporary Atlee (who has a huge track record of success), and she will star alongside her superstar colleague Allu Arjun. Production for this project is set to begin later this year and the film will release in multiple languages, which will increase her pan-India and global appeal. 

As far as digital presence is concerned, marketing insiders believe Deepika may become one of the most powerful celebrity influencers in the world with particular influence for luxury and travel brands.

Conclusion

In an era of content saturation on social media, Deepika Padukone has proven that authentic connection, understated storytelling, and global relevance still matter. Her record-breaking Instagram reel marks not only a personal accomplishment for Padukone, but a new chapter in how also the world sees and values Indian talent in the global digital space.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): hindustantimes.com