Himani Shivpuri recalls rented flat, bus rides and juggling theatre with motherhood
Synopsis
Himani Shivpuri’s Instagram throwback is more than nostalgia — it is a rare, unfiltered account of what the ‘struggle period’ actually looked like for a theatre-trained actress in 1980s Delhi: a rented flat in Mayur Vihar, daily bus rides to Mandi House, NSD rehearsals, housework, and solo motherhood. Four decades on, that foundation underpins one of Bollywood’s most recognisable supporting careers.
Key Takeaways
Himani Shivpuri shared a throwback post on Instagram on 15 September 2026 recalling her life in the 1980s .
She lived in a rented flat in Mayur Vihar, Delhi and commuted daily by bus to Mandi House for rehearsals with the NSD Repertory Company .
She simultaneously managed household work and raised her son during what she called the ‘struggle period.’ Her film career spans more than four decades and includes titles such as “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” and “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.” She currently plays Katori Amma in the TV series “Happu Ki Ultan Paltan,” a spin-off of “Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!”
Veteran actress Himani Shivpuri has opened up about the demanding early years of her career, recounting how she balanced motherhood, household chores, and her passion for theatre while living in a modest rented flat in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi. The revelation, shared on her Instagram account on 15 September 2026, came alongside a throwback photograph from the 1980s that captured a tender moment with her young son.
Life in Mayur Vihar: The Struggle Years
In her post, Shivpuri described a daily routine that was anything but glamorous. Every day, she would board a bus from Mayur Vihar to Mandi House — the cultural hub of Delhi — for rehearsals and performances with the NSD Repertory Company, the performance wing of the prestigious National School of Drama. Between rehearsals, she managed her home and raised her son largely on her own.
In her own words: “Suprabhat! Sharing a photo from the eightees, used to stay in Mayur Vihar in a rental flat, travelled everyday to Mandi house in a bus, Nsd repertory company, doing theatre, managing the housework, bringing up my son, the rehearsals, the struggle period.. but I was happy as I was doing something that I loved- theatre.”
The candid admission offers a rare glimpse into the unglamorous years that precede decades of fame — a reality that resonates with countless working women in the performing arts.
From NSD Repertory to Bollywood Landmarks
Shivpuri’s grounding in theatre proved to be a formidable foundation. She went on to build a film career spanning more than four decades, appearing in some of Hindi cinema’s most enduring productions. Her credits include “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” “Pardes,” “Hero No. 1,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” and “Koyla,” among others — films that together represent a cross-section of mainstream Bollywood across the 1990s and 2000s. Her role in the beloved family drama “Hum Aapke Hain Koun” remains among her most recognised performances.
Current Work: Happu Ki Ultan Paltan
On television, Shivpuri is currently seen playing Katori Amma (also referred to as Katto Amma) in the comedy series “Happu Ki Ultan Paltan,” a spin-off of the long-running “Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!” Set in Kanpur, the show revolves around police officer Happu Singh, his wife Rajesh, his mother Katori, and their nine children, chronicling their daily lives and comic misadventures.
Why the Post Struck a Chord
Shivpuri’s throwback narrative lands at a moment when conversations around women’s labour — both professional and domestic — are increasingly visible in public discourse. For a generation of theatre-trained actors who built their credentials on state repertory stages before the streaming era, hers is a story of persistence without privilege. Notably, the NSD Repertory Company has been a launchpad for many of India’s most respected stage and screen performers, yet its alumni rarely speak this openly about the material hardships of those years.
As Shivpuri continues her television run, her Instagram post serves as a timely reminder that longevity in Indian entertainment is almost always built on years of quiet, unglamorous groundwork.
Point of View
Not as unglamorous logistics of bus commutes and domestic labour. The NSD Repertory system produced a generation of formidable actors, yet the material conditions of that training are seldom acknowledged. That a performer with her filmography still frames those years as a ‘struggle period’ is a signal worth reading — it speaks to how poorly the state-subsidised theatre ecosystem compensated its artists even as it built their careers.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Himani Shivpuri share on Instagram?
Himani Shivpuri shared a throwback photograph from the 1980s on Instagram, recalling her early career days when she lived in a rented flat in Mayur Vihar, Delhi, and travelled by bus to Mandi House daily for NSD Repertory Company rehearsals while managing her home and raising her son.
What is the NSD Repertory Company?
The NSD Repertory Company is the professional performance wing of the National School of Drama, based at Mandi House in New Delhi. It has served as a training and performance ground for many of India’s most prominent theatre and film actors.
Which films is Himani Shivpuri known for?
Himani Shivpuri is known for a wide range of commercially successful Hindi films, including ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,’ ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun,’ ‘Pardes,’ ‘Hero No. 1,’ ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,’ and ‘Koyla,’ spanning a career of more than four decades.
What is Himani Shivpuri currently doing on television?
She currently plays Katori Amma in ‘Happu Ki Ultan Paltan,’ a spin-off of the popular comedy series ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!’ Set in Kanpur, the show follows police officer Happu Singh and his large family in various comic situations.
Why has Himani Shivpuri’s throwback post attracted attention?
The post resonated widely because it offers a candid, first-person account of the financial and domestic hardships faced by theatre artists in 1980s India — a side of the industry rarely discussed openly by established actors. Her description of balancing motherhood, housework, and professional rehearsals struck a chord with many.
