Padmini Kolhapure recalls Dev Anand's warmth at their first meeting
Synopsis
Padmini Kolhapure's Indian Idol appearance pulls back the curtain on a Bollywood origin story few knew: at just seven, she was placed on Dev Anand's lap by Asha Bhosle during a recording session — and walked away with a film role. Decades later, she would play Asha Bhosle's on-screen daughter in Mai, completing a circle that began in her grandmother's living room.
Key Takeaways
Padmini Kolhapure appeared on an upcoming episode of Indian Idol and recalled her first meeting with Dev Anand .
She was just 7 years old when Asha Bhosle introduced her to Dev Anand during a recording session.
Dev Anand affectionately placed her on his lap and immediately offered her a role in Ishq Ishq Ishq , her debut film.
Padmini's grandfather and Asha Bhosle's father were partners in the Balwant Natak Company , linking the families across generations.
Years later, Padmini and Asha Bhosle reunited on screen in the film Mai , where Asha played her on-screen mother.
Veteran actress Padmini Kolhapure has shared a heartwarming memory of her first encounter with legendary actor Dev Anand — a meeting arranged by singing icon Asha Bhosle when Padmini was just seven years old. The revelation came during an upcoming episode of the popular singing reality show Indian Idol, where the actress appeared as a special guest.
How Asha Bhosle Brought Two Icons Together
Padmini recalled that she was part of a chorus during a recording session when Asha Bhosle introduced her to Dev Anand. The legendary actor, charmed by the young girl, affectionately placed her on his lap and immediately declared, 'Doosri film kyu, isi film mein isko le lunga' — and true to his word, he cast her in Ishq Ishq Ishq.
On the show, rapper and judge Badshah remarked that Padmini had been introduced to Bollywood by Dev Anand. The actress gently corrected him: 'Aadha sahi, aadha galat hain. Meri pehli film Ishq Ishq Ishq thi Dev saab ki, lekin us film mein mujhe Asha Bhosle ji ne introduce kiya tha Dev saab ko.'
A Child Who Danced for Asha Bhosle
Padmini revealed that her bond with Asha Bhosle predates her film career entirely. 'Main sirf 7 saal ki thi aur mujhe dance ka bahot shauk tha,' she said. Her grandmother would ask her to perform whenever Asha ji visited their home, and Padmini would play Asha's songs on the LP and dance to them — her favourite being 'Haye Bichhua Das Gayo Re'.
The family connection ran even deeper. Padmini disclosed that her grandfather and Asha Bhosle's father were partners in the Balwant Natak Company, making the two families intertwined across generations. 'Meri dadi hamesha chahti thi ki agli peedhi bhi abhinay aur kala se judi rahe,' she added.
Destiny Comes Full Circle in 'Mai'
Decades later, life brought Padmini and Asha Bhosle together on screen in the Hindi film Mai, where the legendary singer played Padmini's on-screen mother. According to the actress, Asha Bhosle herself set a condition before agreeing to the film: 'Asha ji ne kaha tha ki woh tabhi film karengi jab main unki beti ka role karungi.'
Padmini described the experience as deeply fulfilling: 'Main khud ko bahot blessed aur complete feel kar rahi thi.' The moment, she said, brought a sense of closure to a relationship that had shaped her life from childhood. The upcoming Indian Idol episode promises to be a nostalgic tribute to an era when Bollywood's greatest names were bound by personal warmth as much as professional admiration.
Point of View
But it also surfaces something the Indian film industry rarely acknowledges: how deeply personal networks — family friendships, musical circles, drawing-room performances — shaped who got a break in old Bollywood. Padmini Kolhapure's entry was not a casting call; it was a lap and a moment of instinct. That informality defined an era, for better and sometimes for worse. The Mai footnote — where Asha Bhosle conditioned her participation on Padmini playing her daughter — shows how those bonds, when they work, can be genuinely reciprocal across decades.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Padmini Kolhapure first meet Dev Anand?
Padmini Kolhapure first met Dev Anand as a seven-year-old during a recording session, where Asha Bhosle introduced her to him. Dev Anand was so taken with the young girl that he immediately decided to cast her in his film Ishq Ishq Ishq.
What was Padmini Kolhapure's debut film?
Padmini Kolhapure's debut film was Ishq Ishq Ishq, a Dev Anand production. She was introduced to Dev Anand by Asha Bhosle, which led directly to her being cast in the film at the age of seven.
What is the family connection between Padmini Kolhapure and Asha Bhosle?
Padmini Kolhapure's grandfather and Asha Bhosle's father were partners in the Balwant Natak Company, making the two families close across generations. Padmini grew up dancing to Asha Bhosle's songs at home whenever the singer visited.
Did Padmini Kolhapure and Asha Bhosle ever work together on screen?
Yes, they worked together in the Hindi film Mai, where Asha Bhosle played Padmini's on-screen mother. According to Padmini, Asha Bhosle agreed to do the film only on the condition that Padmini play her daughter's role.
Where did Padmini Kolhapure share these memories?
Padmini Kolhapure shared these recollections during an appearance on an upcoming episode of Indian Idol, the popular singing reality show, in a candid conversation that also involved judge Badshah.
