Veteran actress Padmini Kolhapure’s love story with film producer Pradeep Sharma, popularly known as Tutu Sharma, remains one of Bollywood’s most talked-about romances from the 1980s. The couple tied the knot in 1986 after Padmini eloped, defying her family’s disapproval. The reason? Her conservative Maharashtrian family opposed the match due to community differences.
Padmini’s family disapproved of her relationship.
Padmini met Tutu Sharma while working on the film Aisa Pyaar Kahan (1986), which he produced. Their on-set chemistry soon blossomed into love. However, her family, rooted in traditional values, was against the idea of a love marriage outside their community.At the time, the actress found support from her sister Shivangi Kapoor and brother-in-law Shakti Kapoor, who stood by her side. Actress Poonam Dhillonwho was Padmini’s closest friend then (and remains so today), also helped the couple in their daring decision.
Hanif Zaveri recalls how the wedding plan unfolded
Senior author and film historian Hanif Zaveri recently revisited this lesser-known chapter of Bollywood history. Speaking about the incident, he revealed that Poonam Dhillon and Shakti Kapoor were instrumental in helping Padmini elope.Speaking to Meri Sahelli, Zaveri said, “Pradeep Sharma was making a film called Aisa Pyaar Kahan during which he fell in love with his heroine, Padmini Kolhapure. The problem was that Padmini came from a very traditional Maharashtrian family, while Tutu Sharma was from Jaipur. Her parents strongly objected to the marriage because of the difference in communities.”He continued, “Padmini respected her parents a lot, but she was helpless. Her friend Poonam Dhillon told her that the only way out was to elope. So, with the help of her brother-in-law Shakti Kapoor and Poonam, they planned everything carefully.”
“Poonam and Shakti helped her escape”
Recounting the events of that day, Zaveri shared a detailed account, “Three days before she was supposed to elope, I had arranged a meeting with Padmini at her residence in Ashoka Apartments, Juhu. The plan, however, was already in motion. When I reached the building, the watchman had no idea she had already left. Padmini had climbed over the wall behind her house and escaped.”
He revealed that Poonam Dhillon and Shakti Kapoor met her at an apartment called Jaldarshan on Pincy Road, where actor Jeetendra also happened to be present, being a close friend of Tutu Sharma. “They got married there and soon left for Jaipur,” he added.
“Her parents accepted them later”
The sudden elopement caused a disruption in the shooting schedule of Aisa Pyaar Kahan, as Padmini’s portions had to be reshot. “It was chaotic for a while,” Zaveri said. “But eventually, her parents accepted the marriage. Everything returned to normal.”Reflecting on their enduring marriage, he concluded warmly, “People often say that love marriages in the film industry don’t last. But Padmini and Tutu have proved everyone wrong. They are still together and happy. — what could be better than that?”
