Television portrays reality!

Charming as ever Padmini Kolhapure marked her television debut with Sony TV’s ‘Ek Nayi Pehchaan’. She talks about her work and the changing face of entertainment too

Viewers of ‘Ek Nayi Pehchaan’ were in for a treat when the show was launched with the sweet Poonam Dhillon playing the adorable saas but then there was much more in store for them in the form of talented actress Padmini Kolhapure joining in to give her company albeit as her souten Pallavi Ajmera in the show!

In real life however, both the actors are best friends and love to spend as much time together as possible, “Yes and that is an added advantage now that we are doing this show together. Poonam and I have worked together in just one film a long time ago but we bonded so well during that shoot that we became best friends forever,” reminisces Padmini as she fondly talks about Poonam who apparently was also the one who convinced her into taking up the offer.

“I had never planned on doing television since all this time I was busy with my personal and professional commitments and family was my first priority. Now I have some time and producers approached me. Since Poonam was already part of the show, it helped. In fact, she convinced me into doing it and told me that the team was good to work with. I had heard stories of long working hours but seeing her so comfortable I decided to go ahead,” says the talented actress who once ruled the Bollywood industry with her looks and talent.

Padmini says she sees a lot of positive changes in the atmosphere around as she shoots, “Actors and in fact the entire team is much more professional and disciplined these days so have the technical aspects been polished. It is also nice to see so many women professionals working on the sets as assistants, directors and in other departments as compared to earlier days when they would be just assigned to do costumes or hair and makeup for the artists.”

She also does not find television regressive when it comes to portrayal of women. “The kind of women you see on television do exist in real life too. My own character Pallavi Ajmera is that of the other woman who will never be given the status that a wife commands and that is true in the outside world and society too.”

Now that she has entered the television industry Padmini says she is ready to try other things on Television, “I am open to reality show too if they are interesting enough. I would love to judge a singing reality show since I come from a family of singers I have the knowledge and expertise to judge a good voice.”

Apart from her work she says she is blessed to have a supportive family. Is that the secret to her timeless beauty? “I think so, since my husband and son Priyank have always been supportive of whatever I wanted to do so yes sometimes inner peace and happiness glows on your face. I also have my sisters – Shivangi and Tejaswani who are very close to me which matters a lot.”