Now Reading: Usha Nadkarni, 80, says she wants to keep working
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Usha Nadkarni, 80, says she wants to keep working
Actor Usha Nadkarni, 80, says she has no plans to retire and refuses Lifetime Achievement Awards because she believes her acting career is still underway. In an interview with Rajshri Marathi, reported…
The Story in Brief
Actor Usha Nadkarni, 80, says she has no plans to retire and refuses Lifetime Achievement Awards because she believes her acting career is still underway. In an interview with Rajshri Marathi, reported by Hindustan Times, she said she has lived alone since 1987 and is not afraid of death. Her son lives overseas and her siblings have died. Nadkarni also said she bought her first home at 70 after avoiding loans, partly because Marathi work often paid less. She recalled earning Rs 25 at the start of her career and continuing without a manager, publicist or regular vanity van.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narratives here are that an older actor must be lonely, or that rejecting awards is simple vanity. Nadkarni’s account points to something less tidy: independence can coexist with loss, while a long career does not guarantee financial security. Her choice to keep working deserves respect, but the industry should not romanticise low pay or unpaid personal costs. The useful measure is whether experienced performers can secure fair contracts and dependable support, not how cheerfully they endure difficult conditions.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, hindustantimes.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
