Meet actress who started her career with cabaret dance, rose to fame with one role, was Meena Kumari’s…, quit acting after…, is now…

In the 80s, 90s and the following years, the Indian TV serials were being picked up by people in India. While many serials made it to the audience’s TV screens, only a few of them turned out to be a huge hit, and among them was Ramayan. Released in 1987, the show featured Arun Govil essaying the role of Lord Ram. The story of the series stuck with the audience and despite being 38 years since its release, the serial is still discussed among people. It was one of those serials which gave name and fame to all its actors. Among them was Padma Khanna.

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, then do you remember who played Kaikeyi in Ramayan? If the face appears in front of your mind, then it was Padma Khanna for you.

Do you know that even before appearing in Ramayan, Padma was a cabaret dancer? Yes, you read that right! When Padma Khanna was hardly 7, she started to learn dance from Pandit Birju Maharaj. She was a very beautiful dancer. Seeing her talent, Padmini and Vaijayantimala suggested her to find a career in films.

In 1970, Padma got a chance to work in Dev Anand’s film Johnny Mera Naam. In this film, she appeared in the role of a cabaret dancer. However, Padma Khanna was stereotyped in the industry and was only offered roles of the dancers. Do you know that Padma worked as Meena Kumari’s double in Pakeezah?

Padma got her real identity from Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan. Although Padma initially rejected the offer of this show because of the negative role, Ramanand later convinced her a lot and finally Padma agreed to become ‘Kaikeyi’, which she portrayed on screen with such beauty and vivaciousness that even today one cannot even imagine seeing anyone else in this role.

Padma now runs her own Kathak dance academy called Indianica Dance Academy.

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