Padmini Kolhapure (born 1 November 1965) is an Indian actress and singer, who primarily works in Hindi and Marathi films.^[1] 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.^[2]

She began her acting career in 1972 at the age of seven, and her early works include Zindagi (1976) and Dream Girl (1977). 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 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). 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 has also acted in Marathi films like Chimani Pakhar (2000), Manthan: Ek Amrut Pyala (2005) and Prawaas (2020).^[3]

Padmini Kolhapure was born 1 November 1966^[4][5] 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.^[6] Her younger sister, Tejaswini Kolhapure, too is an actress.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9] Her mother formerly used to work as ground staff with Air India.^[8]

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).^[10] She released an album with Bappi Lahiri titled Music Lovers. She performed for the Greater London Council at the Royal Albert Hall in London with Bappi Lahiri and his troupe in 1986. 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). She also gave a very commendable performance of a school girl inflicted by black magic in Gehrayee (1980).^[11]

Kolhapure's mother quit her airlines job to be a full-time chaperone as Padmini picked up more roles. Her most famous child role was playing a child in Raj Kapoor's 1977 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram.^[12] 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.^[13] She graduated to heroine roles at the age of 15 in Nasir Hussain's Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai opposite Rishi Kapoor.^[14] 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.^[15][16] She also earned a Filmfare Special Performance Award for Ahista Ahista (1981).^[17]

Kolhapure was known for her professionalism and diligence.^[18] She even worked when she had fever on Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1985).^[19] She had more box office hits, such as Vidhaata (1982) with Shammi Kapoor and Souten (1983) opposite Rajesh Khanna.^[20] 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.^[21] 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".^[22]

Kolhapure's other notable films through the 80s include - Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan (1984), Swarag Se Sunder (1986), Suhaagan (1986) and Dadagiri (1987).^[23] Kolhapure limited her work through the 90s. Her notable films include Professor Ki Padosan (1994) and Rockford, where she was the producer.^[24] In 2000, she won Screen Award for Best Actress - Marathi for the film Chimani Pakhar.^[25]

She returned to acting in 2004 and worked in many Marathi and Hindi films. Manthan: Ek Amrut Pyala (2005) and Eight Shani (2006) were among them.^[26][27] She appeared in Mera Bachpan with Helen in 2008. She has also acted on stage in Kaash, followed by Abhi To Mein Jawan Hoon and Aasman Se Gire Khajoor Pe Atke,^[28][29][30] with her brother-in-law Shakti Kapoor. Post 2010, Kolhapure played supporting roles mainly that of a mother. In 2011, she foray into Malayalam cinema with V. K. Prakash's Karmayogi, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet.^[31] In 2013, she played Shahid Kapoor's mother in the comedy film Phata Poster Nikla Hero (2013),^[32] and then played Gopikabai in Panipat (2019).^[33] Sje received praises for her 2020 Marathi film Prawaas.^[34]

Kolhapure made her television debut with Ekk Nayi Pehchaan playing Pallavi Suresh Modi.^[35] In 2021, she appeared in the web series Dil Bekaraar. Along with this, she has appeared as guest on various reality shows.^[36]

While working for the film Aisa Pyaar Kahan (1986), Kolhapure met Pradeep Sharma alias Tutu Sharma, who was the producer of the film.^[37] They got married after a brief courtship in 1986.^[38] They have a son named Priyaank Sharma, born in February 1990.^[39] Priyank had assisted filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi for the film Phata Poster Nikla Hero and has worked as an actor in Sab Kushal Mangal (2020). He married producer Karim Morani's daughter and Zoa Morani's sister Shaza Morani on 4 February 2021.^[39][40]

Kolhapure is regarded as one of the most popular and leading actress of 1980s.^[41] In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.^[42] Her co-actor Anil Kapoor credited his career to her and said, "It’s because she agreed to do Woh 7 Din that, I am where I am today."^[43] The Tribune noted, "Padmini Kolhapure is charming, beautiful and graceful. The innocence on her face will take you back to the 80’s when she ruled millions of hearts."^[44]

In 1981, Kolhapure had given King Charles III, a peck on the cheek. This created a great deal of buzz in the British media.^[45] In 2016, Kolhapure turned a designer and started her Indian and Indo-western wear brand, with her friend Sita Talwalkar. Her niece Shraddha Kapoor, unveiled the label.^[46]