Latest news with #Suchitra
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Actress Suchitra shares heartfelt farewell to Baakiyalakshmi: 'Thanks to the whole audience for being the backbone!'
The long-running Tamil television serial Baakiyalakshmi is nearing its emotional finale after captivating audiences for over four years. Actress K.S. Suchitra Shetty, who won hearts as the titular character Baakiya, has penned a moving farewell to mark the end of the beloved show. Taking to Instagram, Suchitra shared a heartfelt post accompanied by a group photo from the final shoot. 'And it's a wrap... An emotional journey with the best memories at Baakiyalakshmi. Thanks to the whole audience for being the backbone. Hoping to see you all soon with a new comeback,' she wrote, leaving fans nostalgic and grateful. Premiering in July 2020, Baakiyalakshmi quickly became a household name across Tamil Nadu , running for over 1,444 episodes. The serial told the inspiring story of Baakiya, a middle-aged homemaker who rises above personal struggles to rediscover her self-worth and independence. Its themes of women's empowerment and realistic family dynamics struck a chord with audiences from all walks of life. Suchitra's powerful portrayal of Baakiya garnered widespread acclaim, while co-stars Sathish Kumar and Reshma Pasupuleti added further emotional depth to the narrative. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo Their performances helped elevate the show into one of Tamil television's most impactful family dramas. As the serial approaches its final few episodes, fans are bracing for a heartfelt conclusion. The makers have promised a 'memorable and satisfying' ending to the journey, ensuring the show's legacy lives on. Though the curtain is closing on Baakiyalakshmi, its message and Suchitra's moving tribute will continue to resonate with fans who saw themselves in the story of a woman who dared to reclaim her voice.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi: In this age of AI, it's important to verify information
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi faced online criticism after sharing an unverified post about an Air India crash survivor, leading to an apology and deletion. She acknowledged her error in judgment, emphasizing the importance of verifying information in the age of AI and social media. Currently, she is focusing on adapting her autobiographical play, Drama Queen, into an audio experience. Suchitra Krishnamoorthi recently sparked online chatter when she tweeted about the Air India crash survivor questioning the authenticity of his version. She later deleted the post and apologised. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror recently, Suchitra shared the story behind the retraction. 'I initially saw it on a senior columnist's wall and assumed it was authentic. I made a mistake; I should have verified it before posting. Of course I apologised immediately,' she said. She added, "We all make mistakes. I said sorry, it was an error of judgement. I do realise that in this age of AI and social media, there is a lot of misinformation floating around. It was a big lesson for me. It's very important to verify everything from various sources." On the career front, Suchitra's focus right now is on her autobiographical play, Drama Queen, which she has turned into an audio experience. 'Transforming my play into an audio experience felt like a natural next step. It allows listeners to immerse themselves in the story in a whole new way. I wrote Drama Queen originally as a stage play in 2013 and had been performing it all over. After my mother's death, one-and-a-half years ago, I had wound up the play because I found it a bit painful. And then my publisher suggested creating it for an audio platform. It's a great way to keep memories alive, keep my work alive, so I jumped at it. It is a new platform, something I've not explored before."
India.com
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Exclusive: Suchitra Krishnamoorthi On Motherhood, Fame And Making History With Drama Queen
New Delhi: Artist, actor, author, and an advocate for creative freedom, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi is back in the spotlight with her groundbreaking project, Drama Queen, The Musical Play. Marking Audible's first-ever Indian musical audiobook, it's a vibrant adaptation of her bestselling book and solo stage performance. In an exclusive conversation with Zee News, Suchitra opens up about expression, womanhood, fame and parenting. Q1. You've transformed your solo stage play Drama Queen into India's first-ever Audible musical. What inspired you, and what do you hope young women, in particular, take away from this performance? "I think, First of all my excitement is exactly better, I can reach millions in you know through one platform, so that for me is very exciting in fact I have had calls from my friends and I have got dms from Spain, London and New York and meri cousin ne phone kiya raat ko ki mai has rahi hu, Australia se mere ek friend ka phone aaya ki 'I have just downloaded your play' and you know, So I think for me the fact that I have been able to reach so many people by partnering with audible is a very exciting thing for me and I don't know how it will help people but I believe in expression and I think, especially as women, we are always told to kind of 'calm down, numb down, slow down, thoda kam raho, kam bano, kam sunai do' toh I think 'Drama Queen' is full volume and I think every human being has the right to be at their full volume. I think different people will take away different things from it but, I know that when I have performed the play, women have come and clutched my hand and you know said that 'OMG this is like you are teling our story' and the main thing you'll take away from is also I think the laughter because yhi response jyada mer dms me aare hai ki 'mam we laughed so much', so i am very happy" Q2 Was 'Drama Queen' inspired by your real life? "Yes its based on my book Drama Queen which is a fictional memoir, maine facts ko fictionalize krke present kara hai you know tadka laga ke. So yes, it is based on my real life incidents." Q3. You made your film debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan, now do you ever feel the pull to return to filmmaking? "I would like to make film, for sure agar koi mujhe, bhout paise de aur bole chalo likho aur direct kro toh mai bhout Khushi se krungi." Q4. If Drama Queen were ever adapted into a film or OTT series, who would you want to play you? "Well I don't know, it depends on at what stage this is made, if it's made right now, you know, anywhere there are wonderful actress who can play me, especially me." Q5 You entered the film industry without any backing. What's your take on the current generation of 'star kids' and nepotism? "Yea these nepotism conversations have to stop and you know children should be given a break because 1 out of 25 star kids probably make it, or maybe 1 out of 100 even, you know, guarantee nahi hai, everybody life is different, apni kudh ki life par concentrate kro, so I think people need to back out of this nepotism conversation and try to bring their own life instead and taki vo apne baccho ko thodi dhanki zindagi de sake." Q6 You've been an actor, singer, writer, and mother. How has your understanding of success evolved over the years? "My definition of success has definitely changed over the last many years and today I would think that success, you know ofcourse success means different things to different people so I am only talking about what it means to me, so i feel if I can do something to the best of my ability and if I can stay happy then that is a very big success for me, but just to push myself beyond as to what I think is possible creatively, expand myself that for me is success." Q7 Do you think you are successful or I can say Happy now? "I am not unhappy so I think yea I am happy". Q8. If you could go back and change one thing in your journey, what would it be? "I would not do things so young, I would give myself some time." Q9. How do you define the modern Indian woman compared to traditional ones and Who do you think Drama Queen would resonate to? "I think Drama Queen would resonate to very large spectrum of women especially and also people and cultural and societies that have always hesitated to express themselves you know, 'Drama Queen' is like 'I am like this only' so I think that is an acceptance people can give themselves" Q10. In a past interview, you spoke about how Bollywood has changed drastically, and you mentioned Urfi Javed as an example of that shift. Today, Urfi just won Karan Johar's reality show The Traitors. Do you think this kind of visibility is what Bollywood is now promoting? "I think visibility today is the criteria for success, so like I said it's not about caliber or anything it's about eyeball. I am Happy for her, I don't know what show you are talking about but yea now everything is just about grabbing eyeball but that is the criteria for success now, that's how it is. I mean one can't fight it, so that's how it is. Do I agree with it, I don't have to but jo hai so hai" Q11. As a mother yourself, and someone who speaks so powerfully about womanhood and creative freedom what are your thoughts on the recent debate sparked by Deepika Padukone's request for an 8-hour workday after motherhood? "See everyone has the right to demand, and everybody has the right to reject so I think there is nothing wrong with Deepika asking for it and there is nothing wrong with the makers not accepting it, you know there are many choices that the both parties have, so these are very persona choices and people are at very different stages of life, you know, koi newcomer bolega ki 8 hours kya, mai 24 hours kaam krungi, but I can say I don't want to work, that all depends on the stage of life you are at and what you want for yourself and I think all demands are valid and I think all acceptance and all rejections for those demands are also valid. I mean there are many actors who work like that you know naya-naya bacha hua hai, there has been many instances like this, so I think it's okay, too much is being made of it. I don't think either party is right or wrong, it is what it is. Deepika is right in asking for it and the makers is right in rejecting it. I mean everybody has a choice." Q12. Your daughter Kaveri recently made her film debut. As both a mother and someone who's seen the industry inside out, how do you guide her as she steps into this world? "I don't interfere, I think she likes to make her own choices and she anyways makes her own decision, so all I can do is just be around if I am required. I am always there for her but she has to find her own ways because you know ultimately whoever your parents are, the journey of an artist, your family's identity doesn't guarantee success or anything. She has to find her own way and you know sought her own path" Q13. Recently, you faced criticism for a post questioning the identity of the Air India crash survivor — something you later apologized for after realizing it was based on misinformation. What were your immediate thoughts as the backlash unfolded? "See I was quoting a journalist, I thought it was authentic, it was my mistake I didn't cross verify, now I will verify 10 times, of course it was a mistake, khair maine maafi maang li and what more can I do, it was such a sensitive matter, I think I deserve the backlash, when something is wrong, you need to admit that it's wrong and say sorry and move on. It is such a sensitive matter, I should have been more careful, just believing one journalist post I saw." Q14. Drama Queen deals with grief, reinvention, and creative freedom. After all you've been through, how has creating this play helped you find your own voice and strength? "Ill give you an example, when I was opening the show, I was very nervous, when my mother came to see the show, the play is really based on my relationship with my mother and I was very nervous and like 'unko bura nahi lagna chahiye' and when the play was going on in the hall, my mother's voice was the loudest, she was laughing so much and after the play she came and hugged me and said 'I never knew my line was so funny, fantastic job.'" Q15. Is there anything you would like to add? Yes, please listen to 'Drama Queen' on Audible. I promise you'll enjoy yourself and laugh a lot.
India.com
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Dilip Kumar's actress, who was kissed by Dharmendra by deceit, refused a film with Raj Kapoor due to…, lived alone for 36 years because…, her name was…
There are so many actors and actresses who quit their career at the peak and pursue a different path. While some get into production, direction, others vanish into thin air only to never return to the world of glitz and glamour. Today, we will discuss about one such actress who became famous, earned a name for herself and eventually vanished when she climbed the ladder of success. She last featured in a film which was released in 1978 and after that, she started living in complete anonymity. This actress was associated with late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The actress in discussion worked with A-list actors like Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and more. Once enthralled audience with her enigma, this star in discussion is late actress Suchitra Sen. Suchitra Sen first worked with Dilip Kumar in 'Devdas' in her career. She created history by playing the character of Paro in this film. She played such a woman leader in Gulzar's 'Aandhi' who was associated with Indira Gandhi. Suchitra's pairing with Uttam Kumar became a huge hit. The two were compared to Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The actress worked in many big films. However, do you know that once she turned down a film with Raj Kapoor? Yes, it has also been mentioned in her book that once Raj Kapoor went to her house to offer her a film. But the actress did not like his behavior. It was told that Raj Kapoor sat near her feet and offered her a role by giving her a bouquet of flowers. Suchitra was very upset. She said, 'I do not like beauty in men, I like brains and the way of talking.' Another Bollywood actor who was head over heels with Suchitra was Dharmendra. The actor himself revealed that after watching Suchitra's work in Devdas, he decided that he would work with her. Both of them came together for the film Mamta in 1966. However, Dharmendra kissed Suchitra by deceit which made the actress angry. After quiting Indian films, Suchitra lived alone for 36 years and people believe it was due to spiritual matters. Suchitra Sen passed away at the age of 82 in 2014.
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Golden age star, who worked with Sanjeev Kumar, Uttam Kumar, didn't appear in public for 36 years on a holy man's suggestion; rejected Raj Kapoor's ‘personality'
Hollywood actor Great Garbo was one of the biggest stars of the silent films in the 1920s and 1930s. But once she left the movies, she retired from public life and turned into a recluse. No one knew why and people often wondered what prompted a star of her stature to live a lonely life, despite having many fans around the world. Closer home, actor Suchitra Sen went through something similar when she decided to lead a secluded life in the city of Kolkata, where she was widely known and loved. In her heyday, Suchitra was known as Paro from Dilip Kumar-starrer Devdas, the protagonist of Gulzar's Aandhi (who was compared to former PM Indira Gandhi), and her on-screen camaraderie with Uttam Kumar was often compared to the chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Suchita primarily worked in Bengali films but she reached a wider audience when she appeared in Hindi films, although she only appeared in a handful of them. But, after her last release in 1978, Pranay Pasha, Suchitra took a retirement from public appearances fully. Many have wondered why she chose to live as a recluse and while some suggest that she never wanted anyone to see her grow old, some have also theorised that there was a deep sadness within her that she did not wish to share with the world. Suchitra was one of the highest paid female actors of her time but as per author Gopal Krishna Roy, who wrote four books on her life, she turned her back on living in a regular society after a holy man told her to do so. Roy shared, in a 2014 chat with NDTV, that after Pranay Pasha flopped, Suchitra was deeply upset about it and headed to Ramakrishna Mission's headquarters near Kolkata. She met a holy man named Bharat Maharaj there and wept for hours. 'I later heard she sat at his feet and wept and wept,' he said and added, 'And Bharat Maharaj told her, 'Ma, ghridho, lobh koro na, don't be greedy. And that, I think, Mrs Sen translated into her own life by becoming a recluse.' Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who was an admirer of the actor, told Mint in 2014 that Suchitra, perhaps, wanted to 'remain beautiful for her fans.' 'Maybe, she wanted to remain beautiful for her fans and I see a likeness to Greta Garbo. What surprises me is that she didn't react to anything that happened around the world. Had Satyajit Ray got her to act in his proposed film Debi Chaudhurani maybe we would have seen a different Suchitra Sen, more so because Ray had the ability to get the best acting out of his characters. Maybe she wanted to remain a matinee idol. She did strong, women-centric roles and directors would shape the characters like that. But to be a great actor, you have to come out of that,' he said. ALSO READ | Bollywood star who worked with Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi was arrested for trying to enter an ashram, has been missing for 20 years despite Rishi trying to find him Suchitra was one of the few actors who was offered the chance to work with Ray, and chose not to take it and she did something similar with Raj Kapoor as well. With Ray, when he offered her Debi Chaudhurani, she couldn't commit because he wanted to block a bunch of her dates. She couldn't do that as it would hamper her schedule and the other commitments she had made. Unfortunately, they never got a chance to work together again. In the case of Raj Kapoor, she refused to work with him because she 'did not like his personality.' In a conversation with Amitabh Choudhury for his book Aamar Bondhu Suchitra Sen, she shared that she refused Raj's offer 'almost immediately.' 'In men, I don't look for beauty. I look for intelligence and sharp conversations. I had refused Raj Kapoor's offer almost immediately. He came to my residence offering a lead role and, as I took my seat, he suddenly sat near my foot and offered me a bouquet of roses while offering the role. I rejected the offer. I did not like his personality. The way he behaved – sitting near my foot – did not befit a man,' she said. Suchitra was already married to Dibanath Sen when she was offered her first film. In fact, the offer came via her father-in-law Adinath Sen. But, in 1963, Suchitra and her husband separated, and in 1970, he died during a trip to the US. Their daughter, Moon Moon Sen, was 16 at the time, and Suchitra insisted that Dibanath's remains be brought to Kolkata, so Moon Moon could bid adieu to her late father. After she started living a solitary life in 1978, Suchitra was hardly seen out and about in Kolkata. But, in 1980, when her long-time co-actor and friend Uttam Kumar died, she came out to pay her last respects. Apart from that, she would sometimes be spotted by locals in markets, or on the roads but she would always be careful about walking with a scarf around her face, so no one would recognise her. Such was her resolve about not being in public that when she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, she chose not to attend the ceremony. But, despite living a lonely life, her sense of humour never went away. Gopal Krishna Roy, who spent a lot of time with her after she moved away from films, recalled a hilarious anecdote in the same chat with NDTV in 2014. He accompanied her to a gynaecologist's office and after the visit, she confided in him about her conversation with the doctor. He recalled with a laugh, 'Mrs Sen took young Moon Moon on her lap and said, 'Gopal do you know what the doctor told me? The doctor told me I am still… and then she paused. So I said anxiously, what? What? Mrs Sen laughed and said… the doctor said I am still a virgin.' Suchitra left the world the same way she had lived in it for the past 36 years. When she died in 2014 at 82, there was a sea of people on the streets of Kolkata who wanted to catch her last glimpse. But, Suchitra was guarded within a coffin. It was almost like she had made that choice when she was hail and hearty. Nevertheless, her life post-1978 remained a mystery to everyone who knew her as a movie star and the way she detached herself from all the fame, was a constant source of speculation.
