On Mar. 8, British tabloid Daily Mail carried a report about Novak Djokovic leaving an upscale Los Angeles bar with a "female companion." Scores of Indians were quick to identify the mysterious woman as none other than Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone.
"Novak flashed the paps a cheeky grin before joining his impeccably turned-out friend in the back seat of a getaway car," the piece said.
The story quickly began trending on Indian Twitter, with some taking the newspaper to task for its misinformed reportage. The popular Indian actress is currently shooting for her Hollywood début film xXx: The Return of Xander Cage with Vin Diesel in Los Angeles.
Deepika Padukone spotted with tennis ace Novak Djokovic outside a restaurant in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/wIVLjngRnZ— Deepika Padukone RU (@DeepikaFC_RU) March 10, 2016
Others critcised the sexist description offered by the Daily Mail, which called Padukone a "leggy brunette" dressed in a "flirty frock which was decorated with a statement floral print and skimmed her knees."
Deepika Padukone leaves pub with mystery companion. Rumoured to be of Serbian origin, the leggy brunette was in casual denims.
— Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) March 10, 2016
Foreign journalists have failed to identify Deepika Padukone. Possibly because only Indians watch the godawful movies she stars in.— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) March 10, 2016
Contrary to the newspaper's gossipy tone, Padukone has played an exhibition tennis match with Djokovic and Roger Federer in the International Premier Tennis League 2014 and was also spotted with Djokovic's wife in 2015.
Picture of the evening - @iptl #FrameTohBantaHai pic.twitter.com/dTlcdPJBtT— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) December 8, 2014