Usha Nadkarni reveals she was beaten by her father for dancing at Lata Mangeshkar’s Ganapati event, her mother threw all her clothes outside the house: ‘Toh main bhi gussa wali thi’

Veteran actress Usha Nadkarni, who is known for her powerful performances in Hindi and Marathi television and cinema, recently opened up about her difficult journey into the world of showbiz. Despite her passion for drama and dance since childhood, Usha faced stiff opposition from her family, especially her parents, while pursuing her artistic interests.
The 78-year-old actress, best remembered for her iconic role as Savita Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta, recalled a vivid memory from her childhood when her father punished her for participating in Ganapati celebrations at legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s residence.
“Papa dhundke maar ke ghar laate the”
In a candid chat with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their podcast, Usha recounted how Lata Mangeshkar used to live in the same neighbourhood during her childhood. Every year, Mangeshkar hosted grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations that included processions and performances, which young Usha couldn’t resist joining.
She said, “Bachpan mein Lata Mangeshkar, hum jaha rehte the Nana Chowk mein pehle, chhoti 10 by 10 ki kholi thi humari… Lata Mangeshkar baaju mein rehti thi. Toh unke waha bade Ganpati hote the… Papa udhar dhundke, maar ke ghar laate the.” (“During my childhood, when we lived in Nana Chowk in a small 10×10 room, Lata Mangeshkar used to live next door. She used to host grand Ganpati celebrations, and I would join the kids dancing in the streets. My father would find me there, beat me, and drag me back home.”)
She further added, “Bohot pitayi ki hai papa ne… ek ko mara teen bhag gaye.” (“My father has beaten me a lot… he’d hit one child and the other three would run away.”)

On being thrown out for acting
While her father was strict, Usha said it was her mother who was more resistant to her acting dreams. Her mother feared that being associated with theatre and dance could harm her daughter’s reputation and marriage prospects.
She revealed, “Ek din toh meri maa ne sab mere kapde utha ke ghar ke baahar phek diye, bola drama karna hai toh hamare ghar se nikal ja.” (“One day, my mother picked up all my clothes and threw them outside the house, telling me to leave if I wanted to act in plays.”)
Not one to back down, Usha said she packed her clothes, bought a bag from Grant Road, and moved in with a friend from the municipal office. “Papa mujhe office mein dhundhne aaye.” (“My father came looking for me at my office.”)

Usha Nadkarni made her acting debut in the 1979 Marathi film Sinhasan and later entered Bollywood with Pratighaat (1987). Over the decades, she carved a niche for herself with impactful roles in films like R… Rajkumar, Bhoothnath Returns, Ventilator, and shows like Bigg Boss Marathi and Celebrity Masterchef.