"Female roles were deeper then, now there are more options" – Padmini Kolhapure

After almost 11 years, powerful actress Padmini Kolhapure, who made a special place in the hearts of audiences with memorable performances in films like Prem Rog and Souten, is returning to television with the historical show Chakravartin Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan.

Having impressed viewers with her performances in classics like Prem Rog, Insaaf Ka Tarazu, Woh Saat Din, Vidhata, Swarg Se Sundar, and Souten, Padmini Kolhapure is making her television comeback after almost 11 years with the historical series Chakravartin Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan. Starting her career in acting as a child, she not only played emotionally deep and sensitive roles at a young age but also helped elevate woman-centric cinema in the 80s and 90s. She has worked with legendary filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, B.R. Chopra, and V. Shantaram.

Recently, she gave an interview where she spoke candidly about her cinematic journey, the film industry of that era, the position of women in cinema, and how things have changed over the years. Here's what she had to say...

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You're making a comeback to television after nearly 11 years, and that too with a grand historical show like Chakravartin Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan. What made you choose this project for your return?
Stepping into the world of Prithviraj Chauhan itself was a big deal for me. It’s rare to get a role with such depth and quiet strength. Panipat was my first historical film and I really enjoyed working on it. But in a film, you have to convey everything within three hours, while on TV, you can explore a character’s depth more gradually. I recently watched Chhava (Vicky Kaushal’s film) and felt it's very important to tell the stories of such heroes.

At a young age, you played very bold and intense roles in films like Insaaf Ka Tarazu and Prem Rog. These roles often had emotionally and physically demanding scenes. As a young actress, what was that experience like for you?
You see, it all depends on the director — how they choose to shoot such scenes. At that time, we had legendary directors like Raj Kapoor, B.R. Chopra, and V. Shantaram. They made films with passion. They truly loved cinema — I’ve seen that myself. They didn’t make films thinking about whether it would work at the box office or not. If they liked the script, they immersed themselves in it completely.
Since I had been working since childhood, it didn’t feel awkward or out of place to me. In fact, I got nervous only when I had to shoot for the first time with Rishi Kapoor (in Prem Rog). I was a huge fan of his. The shoot began with a song, and I had to fall into his arms. Imagine, I was his fan and that was my first shot! So yes, I was a little nervous. But since he was such a senior actor, he immediately sensed that and made me feel very comfortable.

You started acting as a child and worked quite a bit. Did you enjoy it at the time? Some actresses like Neetu Kapoor have said that acting felt like a burden during their childhood, and that’s why they stepped away after marriage. Was your perspective different?
I also quit acting at the age of 21 when I got married because by then I was working non-stop, from morning to night. Back then, we worked all seven days of the week, 365 days a year. Just imagine, I was a child — in fact, even an adult would get exhausted being away from home from 7 AM to midnight every day. Whether it's today, tomorrow, ten days, fifteen days, a month, or a year — anyone would feel burnt out. So yes, it happened to me too. That’s why when I got married, I decided on my own to quit work. It had been enough. And I have no regrets. People now ask, why am I working again? The answer is simple: this is the only work I know.

It's often said that films no longer revolve only around heroes, and strong roles are now being written for women too. As a female actor, how do you view this shift?
Honestly, I find that statement a bit ironic. I was recently talking to someone who said that the kind of women-centric films made back in the day are not being made now. So really, it’s a matter of perspective. In my time, I did many great films and powerful roles — Prem Rog, Insaaf Ka Tarazu, Woh Saat Din, Souten — and people still talk about those films.
Also, back then there were only five or six of us girls in the industry. Now, there are 50 to 100. So the competition has increased drastically. Out of those, only 8–10 are truly ruling the top, but the makers now have so many options. “Okay, if not her, then someone else.” That wasn’t the case before. Back then, a script would be written first, and then they’d think about who was best suited for the role. Now it’s not like that anymore — there are thousands of options available.

Actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Deepika Padukone continue to work after marriage and motherhood, and are advocating for an 8-hour work culture. Do you see this as a positive change in the industry?
Yes, work hours should definitely be fixed. It shouldn’t be 12–14 hour shifts. I’m also the Senior Vice President of CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes’ Association), and we’ve been fighting for this change for a long time — urging people to show some consideration.
I think if a few big actors join this cause, it’ll make work easier for all artists. Because acting demands both physical and mental labor — and a little convenience can go a long way.

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