Padmini Kolhapure

Padmini Kolhapure (born 1 November 1965) is an Indian actress and singer, who primarily works in Hindi and Marathi films.

Kolhapure went onto established herself as one of the leading actress of the 80s.

In a career spanning over four decades, she was worked in over 75 films and has received several accolades including three Filmfare Awards.

Padmini Kolhapure was born 1 November 1966 in a Marathi and Konkani family, second among the three daughters of Pandharinath Kolhapure, a professional musician, by his wife Nirupama Kolhapure.

Her elder sister is the former actress Shivangi Kolhapure, wife of actor Shakti Kapoor and mother of actress Shraddha Kapoor and actor Siddhanth Kapoor.

Her younger sister, Tejaswini Kolhapure, too is an actress.

The family took the surname "Kolhapure" because they hailed from Kolhapur in Maharashtra.

Padmini's mother, Nirupama Kolhapure, was born into a Konkani-speaking Konkani Brahmin family based in Mangalore, Karnataka.

Padmini's father, Pandharinath Kolhapure, was a talented vocalist and Veena player.

He was the son of Pandit Krishnarao Kolhapure (partner in Balvant Natak Academy along with Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar), an exponent of Natya Sangeet, who had enjoyed the patronage of the Baroda Durbar.

Pandharinath's mother was the half-sister of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, and sister of Balwantrao Abhisheki, the father of vocalist Jitendra Abhisheki.

Thus, Padmini is niece of legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.

Her mother formerly used to work as ground staff with Air India.

As a child, she sang in the chorus for songs in films such as Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Kitaab and Dushman Dost with her sister Shivangi.

Padmini later sang for her own films such as Vidhaata, Daana Pani, Professor Ki Padosan Hum Intezaar Karenge and Sadak Chhap (with Kishore Kumar).

She released an album with Bappi Lahiri titled Music Lovers.

She began her acting career in 1972 at the age of seven, and her early works include Zindagi (1976) and Dream Girl (1977).

Asha Bhosle suggested Padmini's name to Dev Anand, who then cast her in Ishk Ishk Ishk (1975).

This led to other films, such as Dreamgirl (1977), Zindagi (1976), and Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978).

Her most famous child role was playing a child in Raj Kapoor's 1977 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

She had her breakthrough with the film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), starring as the young Roopa.

At the age of 15, Kolhapure won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the revenge drama Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980), and at the age of 17, won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the musical romantic drama Prem Rog (1982), thus becoming the second-youngest actress to win the awards in the respective categories.

She also gave a very commendable performance of a school girl inflicted by black magic in Gehrayee (1980).

Kolhapure's mother quit her airlines job to be a full-time chaperone as Padmini picked up more roles.

Her success led to her most controversial role in Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980), a remake of Lipstick (1976), where she played the rape victim that was originally played by Mariel Hemingway.

She earned the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.

She graduated to heroine roles at the age of 15 in Nasir Hussain's Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai opposite Rishi Kapoor.

Kolhapure established herself as a leading lady in Hindi cinema with films such as - Ahista Ahista (1981), Vidhaata (1982), Woh Saat Din (1983), Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985), Swarag Se Sunder (1986), Dadagiri (1987), Phata Poster Nikla Hero (2013) and Panipat (2019).

She also earned a Filmfare Special Performance Award for Ahista Ahista (1981).

Kolhapure was known for her professionalism and diligence.

The film flopped, but she reunited with Rishi for his father Raj Kapoor's blockbuster musical romantic drama Prem Rog (1982), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

She had more box office hits, such as Vidhaata (1982) with Shammi Kapoor and Souten (1983) opposite Rajesh Khanna.

She was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actress for her role in Souten (1983) and also received a Best Actress nomination for Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985).

She agreed to work with Anil Kapoor when he was a newcomer in his first film Woh Saat Din (1983).

The movie was a hit and helped cement his name in the Indian film industry; Anil Kapoor attributes his eventual success in the film industry to her "luck".

She even worked when she had fever on Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985).

She had a huge hit with Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985) with Mithun Chakraborty, and they were paired together in several more films.

For the film she received Filmfare Best Actress nomination.

She performed for the Greater London Council at the Royal Albert Hall in London with Bappi Lahiri and his troupe in 1986.

She has also acted in Marathi films like Chimani Pakhar (2000), Manthan: Ek Amrut Pyala (2005) and Prawaas (2020).