Bollywood Star Meenakshi Seshadri Shines at Durga Puja Carnival

On October 7th, 2025, acclaimed Bollywood actress Meenakshi Seshadri graced the Durga Puja Carnival on Red Road in Kolkata with a captivating performance. Seshadri, who rose to fame with films like Hero and Damini in the 1980s and 1990s, spoke about her deep connection to Bengal, having been born near the Bihar-Bengal border.

Reflecting on her career, Seshadri acknowledged that she has had more "flops than successes," but her role in the 1993 film Damini continues to define her. She believes that the audience accepted her in that role because, like her character, she has always stood up for what she believes is right. Seshadri revealed that there were even attempts to replace her during the filming of Damini, but the situation ultimately turned around, and many later echoed that the character was a lot like her in real life.

Looking back at the film that catapulted her to stardom, Seshadri recalled the unexpected rise of Hero, her second film after Painter Babu. She credits the film's timeless appeal and the audience's love for "romance, dance and drama" for its success, which ran for an entire year, even in South Indian cities.

Despite the industry's current challenges, with a lack of "freshness in creative work," Seshadri remains hopeful about making a comeback after years away from the spotlight. She believes that the emergence of OTT platforms, which are creating stronger female characters, will provide her with new opportunities to showcase her talent.