Why Deepika Padukone will pay ₹73 lakh a year to maintain her Hollywood Walk of Fame star? All about the costly honour

Contrary to reports, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame cannot be ‘bought’ but the stars do have to shell out a hefty amount for maintainence.

Updated on: Jul 3, 2025, 18:49:13 IST

By Abhimanyu Mathur

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Actor Deepika Padukone became the first woman from India to get a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday. Deepika, who is known in the West for her appearance in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, was among the new inductees at the Walk of Fame, unveiled in Hollywood on Wednesday evening. While many reports claimed that stars can 'buy' a spot on the Walk of Fame, the reality is that the inductees are selected by a selection panel each year. The celebs do have to shell out money after that, but only for the maintenance of their coveted spot.

Deepika Padukone will be the first Indian woman to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Who can get a Hollywood Walk of Fame star?

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an iconic walkway on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. It is lined with over 2700 stars on the ground, each dedicated to a celebrity. In short, anyone can be nominated, provided they are considered a celebrity. While there is no official criterion, the star on the Walk of Fame is considered a big honour. The general consensus is that 'has-beens' and 'where-are-they-nows' do not get a spot on the Walk of Fame. To get a star, you need to be one.

The Walk of Fame Class of 2026 includes names like Emily Blunt, Timothee Chalamet, Marion Cotillard, Stanley Tucci, Rami Malek, Rachel McAdams, Demi Moore, Chris Columbus, Tony Scott, Greg Daniels, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Deepika Padukone.

Who picks the inductees for the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the official organisation that administers the Hollywood Walk of Fame, receives 200-300 nominations each year. A selection panel appointed by the organisation then selects a number of inductees each year. Each star honours artists from the worlds of film, television, music, radio, and live performance for their impact on popular culture.

Ricky Gervais poses at the ceremony honoring Ricky Gervais with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 30, 2025. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)

Why do celebs pay for their Hollywood Walk of Fame star?

The induction and selection do not involve any fees or payment. It is a decision made by the selection panel of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. However, there is a sponsorship fee of $85000 (roughly ₹73 lakh) that the inductee needs to agree to pay. This annual fees is for the maintenance of the star. According to the official website of the Walk of Fame, "The fee is used to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame." The price is subject to change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Mathur
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

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