I just want to rediscover myself, says Padmini Kolhapure

New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) Yesteryear actress Padmini Kolhapure, who took a break from acting at the prime of her career, will be seen in a new film, 'Mera Bachpan', but says she has no intention of making a career out of her second innings.

'I'm not trying to make a career from my comeback. I am doing what I did best and that is acting. I want to rediscover myself like any other woman would want to do if given a chance. I'm going with the flow and my instincts,' Padmini told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

She teams up with the legendary Helen in 'Mera Bachpan'. Directed by Rajiv Sharma, the film is about a woman (Padmini) who comes to live with her mother (Helen) with her four children.

'This is for the first time I'm working with Helen. I'm her diehard fan. She is a fantastic human being and we bonded very well on the sets.

'Earlier, we coudln't work together because when I was working, she took a break. But now that we both are back in the business, I enjoyed working with her,' said Padmini.

Padmini started her career as a child actor in 1975 and featured in films like 'Dreamgirl', 'Zindagi' and 'Saajan Bina Suhagan'. But it was the song 'Yashomati maiyaa' picturised on her in 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', where she played the young Zeenat Aman, that brought her fame.

She was then roped in to play Zeenat Aman's younger sister in 'Insaaf Ka Tarazu' that fetched her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 1980.

She graduated to doing lead roles at the age of 15 with 'Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai'. In 1982, she bagged a Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role in 'Prem Rog' and a special acting award for 'Ahista Ahista'.

However, she retired from the film industry when she married producer Tutu Sharma at the age of 21.

'I quit at that age because I wanted to retire. The work used to keep me very busy and I couldn't get time for myself. Anwyay, I had decided that whenever I got married, I would definitely leave films. So when I got married, I quit films and got busy with my family,' she said.

'However, I have been associated with acting all these years as I set up the Padmini Kolhapure School of Acting in London and Delhi. I used to organise acting workshops in Maharashtra and other states and also in Nepal. I also have a company - Star Talaash Promotions. It promotes young actors,' she added.

Padmini made a comeback with the hit Marathi film 'Chimnee Pakhra' in 2004. After that she was seen in another Marathi film, 'Manthan'.

In Hindi films, she started her second innings with Karan Razdan's 'Eight', but the film didn't see the light of day. In 2006, Padmini was seen in the box office dud 'Souten', a remake of the 1980s hit of the same name.

On being asked why she wasn't seen too often after her comeback, she said: 'I have a bit of a laid-back attitude. I don't even have the temperament for working continuously.'

Her other forthcoming films include 'Daughter' and 'Phir Bhi Rahengi Nishaniyan', a Hindi remake of 'Chimnee Pakhra'.

In her prime, she starred with heroes like Mithun Chakraborty, Anil Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah and says she would like to work with them again.

'I'd love to work with all the actors I've worked with like Anil (Kapoor), Govinda and Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) because when I left, they had just come in the industry. I've never had the opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan and I'd definitely like to work with him,' said the actress.

She would also like to collaborate with newcomers.

With the films in her kitty and her acting schools, the actress is looking forward to only 'happiness' in life.