Legs had to be amputated at the age of 17: Sudha Chandran did not want to be a burden on her family, had told her father about dying

Welcome to 'Star Talks'. Today we are going to tell you about an actress who had to have her leg amputated in an accident at the age of 17. After this accident his will to live had ended. But today he is one of the well-known faces of Hindi cinema and television world. We are talking about actress Sudha Chandran, who is currently seen in an important role in the TV show 'Dori'.

Let us tell you, apart from TV shows, Sudha, who has also appeared in Hindi films, is known for her negative characters. She has created a distinct identity among the audience with the character of Ramola Sikandar in the serial 'Kahin Kisi Roz' and Yamini in the serial 'Naagin'. Recently Dainik Bhaskar got a chance to hear the inspired story of Sudha Chandran in her own words.

The time was 10 in the morning. We reached the set of TV serial 'Dori' where Sudha Chandran was busy preparing the getup for her character 'Kailashi'. As soon as we entered her make-up room, the actress welcomed us very lovingly. From losing the will to live at the age of 17, to marrying against her parents, to being unemployed for years despite receiving a National Award, to not getting work in Bollywood, Sudha Chandran has opened up on all aspects of her life. Had a conversation.

By the way, do you know that Sudha started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of just three and a half years. Not only this, she was also a topper in studies. Sudha Chandran's father K.D. Chandran was a resident of Kerala. He worked at the American Library in Mumbai while his mother was Thangam, a housewife and classical singer. Both his parents wanted him to become an international dancer. Apart from inspiring Sudha Chandran to dance well, her mother also inspired her to study well.

According to the actress, her mother was very strict about her studies and always wanted her to top her class. Sudha Chandran holds a degree in Industrial and International Economics. However, Sudha always wanted to pursue a career in dancing. In 1981, at the age of 17, Sudha's leg had to be amputated in an accident. After which his dancing career was in danger, but he started flying dreams again by wearing artificial legs.

Let us tell you that Sudha started her acting career with the Telugu film 'Mayuri' which was based on her life. Later this film was dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam and its Hindi remake film 'Nache Mayuri' was also made. Sudha Chandran worked in this also.

After the accident I had no reason to live

Sudha Chandran says, actually after that accident I had no reason to live. The question was, what will I do now without one leg? At that time, I was a bird who dreamed of doing a lot in my teenage years. I had reached that stage in my life where I was just about to board my flight when I met with an accident. This is the year 1981. The interesting thing was that I was the least injured in that accident.

I had a slight fracture in my right leg. Now, since it was an accident case, we could not get police and medical help immediately. We were admitted to a government hospital where they made a good case worse. There was a small cut on my ankle which the doctor did not clean properly. He stitched the injury and applied POP (Plaster of Paris) on it. After about a week, the wound had completely healed.

This story of life was similar to Manmohan Desai's film 'Amar Akbar Anthony'

Actually, this story of my life was similar to Manmohan Desai's film 'Amar Akbar Anthony'. My parents were admitted in different wards. It took my father 6 days just to find out whether his wife and daughter were alive or not. Eventually, when they realized that their daughter's treatment was not going well, they decided to shift me to a hospital in Chennai. In that hospital, we learned that a minor injury had turned into gangrene (a special type of disease in which the tissues of certain parts of the body start getting destroyed).

Told my father- 'If possible, let me go, I don't want to live'

My parents tried very hard not to have my leg amputated. They knew that I was incomplete without dancing. But destiny had a different decision. There was no option other than amputating my leg. At that time I told my father – 'If possible, let me go, I do not want to live'. Actually, I did not want to live as a burden on my parents. At that time, my father took care of me and said that he would support me by becoming my feet. He fulfilled this promise given to him till his last breath. I will always be grateful to him.

In the same year, the invention of the foot (rubber foot for people amputated below the knee) in Jaipur and getting my foot fitted was no less than a miracle for me. I just wanted to dance, I came to Mumbai from Chennai with Jaipur foot. What I learned at the age of 3, I was learning again. Many times there would be bleeding and I would go to the bathroom and cry. However, I never lost my courage. After that accident, it took me 3 years to stand on my feet.

Danced with fake legs for the first time, then it became news

When she danced with a prosthetic leg for the first time, it became news. My story was discussed so much that a film was also made on it. I remember, people used to worship the poster of my film. At that time I had become a reel life heroine. I was awarded the National Award. Usually people read about you after you leave this world. Children are reading about me in school. What could be a bigger achievement than this?

First film 'Mayuri' was a hit but after that he also faced depression.

After the first film 'Mayuri', I did a few films but they did not work. Perhaps I could not live up to the expectations of the audience. Maybe even I was not able to understand what was happening? People repeatedly made me realize that I was not made for the glamor field. They would say why would anyone employ a specially challenged person?

When I heard this, I used to get depressed. During this time, I also saw a period when a producer would become unknown despite knowing me.

The character of Ramola Sikandar proved to be a turning point for me.

After waiting for 7 years, I got my next project. In the year 2001, Ekta Kapoor offered me 'Kahin Kisi Roz'. The character of Ramola Sikandar in that show proved to be a turning point for me. However, after that I kept getting only negative characters. Well, I really enjoy playing negative roles and that is why I have no complaints about it.

Despite 'Malamaal Weekly' being a superhit, films were not being offered.

Started my career with films but unfortunately I did not get much work in this sector. People ask me why are you not doing films? Actually, I have not found the answer to this yet. I did the film 'Malamaal Weekly' in the year 2006 which was a superhit. Despite this I was not offered films. Well, TV is my livelihood and I will never leave it.

Mother always wanted me to marry in a Tamil-Brahmin family but…

My husband, Ravi Dang, is Punjabi and he is associated with this industry. Actually, Ravi and I met during the shooting of a film. The special thing is that that film was never released. My mother always wanted me to marry into a Tamil-Brahmin family. But, something else was written in my destiny. When I told my parents about Ravi, initially they were not ready but with time they accepted.