Veteran actress Usha Nadkarni, best known for her memorable role in Pavitra Rishta, has opened up about the personal struggles that shaped her life. Despite enjoying a successful career spanning nearly seven decades in Hindi and Marathi cinema and television, the actress revealed that her journey has been filled with loneliness, sacrifice, and emotional challenges. At the age of 80, she continues to live independently in Mumbai while pursuing her passion for acting.
Veteran Actress Usha Nadkarni Living Alone Since 1987
In an interview with Rajshri Marathi, Usha Nadkarni revealed that she has been living alone since 1987. Her son now lives abroad, and after losing all her siblings, she gradually accepted life on her own.
She said, "I have got used to it. I have been living alone since 1987. I am not scared at all. When I first moved into my building, I used to be afraid. I would ask the security guard to walk me to my door because I feared someone might attack me from behind. But now I am no longer afraid."
Usha Nadkarni Is Not Afraid of Death
The actress admitted that living alone sometimes makes her think about death, but she has never feared it.
She said, "No one can predict how they will die. Some people pass away in their sleep, while others die in hospitals. I am not scared at all. If I die in my sleep, my neighbours will knock on my door and wonder, 'The old lady hasn't opened the door today.'"
Usha Nadkarni Reveals Her Son's Emotional Remark
Usha Nadkarni also spoke about her personal life and revealed that she separated from her husband many years ago. Their son was raised by her mother while the actress remained busy with work.
Recalling those days, she shared, "Even today, my son tells me that I only gave birth to him. He says my mother was his real mother."
Usha Nadkarni’s Difficult Childhood And Career
On Sony TV’s show Tum Ho Na: Ghar Ki Superstar, the veteran actress also revealed that her father, an Air Force officer, had a violent temper, creating a fearful environment at home.
Speaking about following her dreams, she said, "I wanted to become an actress since childhood. My mother did not approve because we belonged to a middle-class family. I say, 'To hell with such people. You should do what you truly want.' I acted for the first time in Class 4, and today, at 80, I am still acting."
Usha Nadkarni made her Hindi television debut in the late 1990s, but it was her iconic role as the strict matriarch Savita Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta (2009) that catapulted her to widespread popularity and earned her household fame.