indian cinema heritage foundation

Padmini Kolhapure

Artists
  • Born: 01 November, 1965 (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
  • Primary Cinema: Hindi
  • Parents: Pandharinath Kolhapure, Nirupama Kolhapure
  • Spouse: Pradeep Sharma
  • Children: Priyank Sharma
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Hindi cinema has seen many actresses that made a mark for them even in the limited time period that they graced the film screen and Padmini Kolhapure is one of them. Working in the films during the 70s and 80s she made a prominent mark for herself among the audience.

Born on 1 November, 1965 to professional musician father Pandharinath Kolhapure and mother Nirupama Kolhapure she was inclined to singing from a very young age. She started her career in the film industry as a child artist in the film Ishk Ishk Ishk (1974) directed by Dev Anand. She went on to do many roles as a child actor, though her breakthrough came with the 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram in which she was cast as the younger version of Zeenat Aman’s character Roopa. 

The 1980 film Insaaf Ka Tarazu earned Padmini her first Filmfare award for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She graduated to playing heroine roles at the age of fifteen with Naasir Hussain’s film Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981) alongside Rishi Kapoor. The film wasn’t a huge success but Padmini’s acting was highly appreciated. In the same year she appeared in Esmayle Shroff’s Ahista Ahista alongside stalwarts like Shammi Kapoor, Nanda, Shashikala, Rehman and Kunal Kapoor. Even after being a part of such highly acclaimed star cast she held her performance and was awarded her second Filmfare for Special Performance Award. Her next appearance in Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog (1982) was a super-hit and earned her her third Filmfare award and the first one for Best Actress Role. 

Known for her serious performances and the ability to portray any role with as much finesse, Padmini Kolhapure created a niche of her own within a limited period of time. She continued her record of hits with films such as Souten (1983) in which she was cast alongside Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim and directed by Saawan Kumar Tak, and Who Saat Din (1983) directed by Bapu. The film also marked the debut of Anil Kapoor as a lead in Hindi cinema. In 1985 she appeared on screen with Mithun Chakraborty in Vijay Sadanah’s Pyaar Jhukta Nahi. The film was a box office success and their pairing was quite appreciated by the audiences and they went on to act in many films together such as Swarg Se Sundar (1986), Aisa Pyaar Kahaan (1986), Sagar Sangam (1988), Daata (1989), Daana Paani (1989) and more.