Knitting and playing with grandchildren are some activities one would associate with a 79-year-old.
Knitting and playing with grandchildren are some activities one would associate with a 79-year-old. But Vidula Javalgekar, a retired Hindi professor, has never been as busy as she's been in the last six years with her career as an actress.
So far she has acted in eight films, including Khakhi, Water, which was nominated for the Oscars, Harishchandrachi Factory and Kaminey.
"I never dreamed of pursuing acting as a profession, but after my retirement, it has became a passion," said Javalgekar.
Her experiences
The PhD scholar in Hindi has earned critical acclaim for her role of the widow Patiraji in Water. "Water will always be my favourite film," said Javalgekar, as it brought her fame. She went to Sri Lanka to shoot this movie. The International Film Festival in Toronto had even praised Javalgekar for her brilliant performance.
Javalgekar played the old neighbour of Dadasaheb Phalke in Harishchandraachi Factory and Priyanka Chopra's grandmother in Kaminey.
Javalgekar was all praise for Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai with whom she worked in Khakhi. "They made me feel comfortable, as it was my first film and I was nervous," she recalled.
But co-stars say Javalgekar is a natural in front of the camera. "Javalgekar ma'am is very enthusiastic even at this stage of her life. She is a source of inspiration for us," said Shubhangi Damle, a stage activist.
Currently, Javalgekar is doing Amol Gupte's Sapne Ginte Ginte. Water Ani Mee, her biographical account, was recently published in Marathi.
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