Remember Padma Khanna, the actress who played ‘Kaikeyi’ in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan? Once a superstar, became famous as a cabaret dancer, was Meena Kumari’s…, quit acting, is now…

Today, we will talk about this actress who not just starred in many films but also became a household name on television. At the peak of her career, she left everything behind and went to live happily ever after with the man of her dreams. Well, she garnered immense love from masses after portraying the role of Queen Kaikeyi in Ramanand Sagar’s mythological TV show Ramayan (1987-88). She is none other than Indian actress Padma Khanna.

At the age of 7, Padma started learning Kathak from Guru Kishen Maharaj of Varanasi. Gradually, she started performing on stage and later learnt advanced form of Kathak from Gopi Krishna. After watching her impeccable dancing skills, veteran actresses Padmini and Vyjayanthimala recommended her to pursue career in acting.

At the age of 12, she made her debut as an actress in the 1961 Bhojpuri film Bhaiyya. Her big break came in 1970 when she played the role of a cabaret dancer in Johnny Mera Naam. Padma also portrayed the role of a dancer in many films including Loafer, Jaan-e-Bahaar, and Pakeezah, where she acted as Meena Kumari’s body double in opening shots.

Padma starred in over 400 films of all Indian languages including Saaz Aur Awaaz, Biwi Aur Makaan, Baharon Ke Sapne, Sangharsh, Dastaan, Hindustan Ki Kasam, Rampur Ka lakshman and Saudagar. She acted in TV serials too, the most popular among them being Ramayan, in which she portrayed Kaikeyi, one of the two key female characters.

Married to film director Jagdish l. Sidana, the Saudagar actress moved to the US in the 1990s and founded the Indianica Dance Academy. Following her marriage, Padma left the film business behind and is now living life away from glitz and glam.

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