This actress and dancer made her debut at 16, delivered 250 films in 30 years, was often compared to Vyjayanthimala, her name is.., got married to...
This actress and dancer made her debut at 16, delivered 250 films in 30 years, was often compared to Vyjayanthimala, her name is.., got married to...
In the glitzy and glamorous world of cinema, many actors come and go. Some became a sensation overnight, others entertain us for a bit with their impeccable performances, and vanish from our memory before we know it. However, there are rarely a few artists that remain etched in our memories for years to come.. She had unparalleled control over the heyday of Indian cinema. She enthralled everyone with her expressive eyes, elegant dancing, and commanding on-screen persona as soon as she joined the industry.
The actress we are talking about is none other than Padmini. She was not only known as a great performer, but she was also widely appreciated for her unmatched command in classical dance. She was also often compared to the then-superstar and Bharatnatyam dancer, Vyjayanthimala. Both actresses had a tough competition, and their comparison peaked in 1958 for the film Raj Tilak. Both actresses had a dance-off for the song 'Aaja Raja Bekarar'.
Born on 12 June 1932 in Trivandrum, Tamil Nadu, Padmini came from a Malayali family and made her debut at a very young. She was only 16 when she did her first film, Kalpana. Cast as a dancer, her classical performance in the film won hearts and set the stage for a remarkable career. Her sisters Ragini and Lalitha were also actresses, and together the trio earned the title 'Travancore Sisters'.
Padmini's career lasted for thirty years. She worked on more than 250 films in several languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.
Even though she produced a lot of successes, many people praised her collaboration with Raj Kapoor, the 'Showman of Bollywood.' Together, the pair produced numerous successes, including Amar Deep, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Mera Naam Joker, and Afsana. She also appeared on screen alongside such icons as Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, and Sivaji Ganesan.
In 1961, when Padmini was at the peak of her career, she tied the knot with Dr. K.T. Ramachandran, a physician based in the United States. After marriage, she moved to America and distanced herself from the world of life and embraced her family life. She was blessed with a son in the year 1963.
However, her love for dance continued. In the year 1977, she established the Padmini School of Fine Arts in New Jersey, which became one of the most reputed classical dance institutions in the U.S. Her contributions to cultural arts extended far beyond cinema.
After being an actress, Padmini also ventured into Politics. In 1966 and again in 1971, she entered Lok Sabha elections from the Congress Party. In the year 1989, Padmini made her directorial debut with the film Mohabbat Ka Paigham.
Padmini took her last breath on 24 September 2006; however, her legacy continues to resonate with the audience even today.
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