Dreams don’t always come wrapped in support and applause—sometimes they come with rejection, heartbreak, and a fight for survival. That’s exactly how Usha Nadkarni’s journey began. Today, she is a respected name in Indian television and cinema, known by millions as Savita Deshmukh from Pavitra Rishta. But behind her successful career, which even saw her share screen space with Akshay Kumar in the blockbuster Rustom, lies a story filled with struggles, defiance, and courage.
Usha Nadkarni first became a household name through Pavitra Rishta, where she starred from 2009 to 2014 alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Ankita Lokhande. Her fiery portrayal of the fiery Savita Deshmukh won her immense recognition. However, while on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Usha revealed how both her parents were against her dream of becoming an actress. When she first expressed her desire to act, her mother reacted by throwing all her clothes into the street and kicking her out of the house. With nowhere to go, she stayed with a friend for a week until her father eventually came and brought her back home.
Her early TV days
In another interview with Pinkvilla, Usha reflected on her early television days, admitting how tough negotiations were when she landed Pavitra Rishta. She revealed she almost lost her temper during the fee discussions, joking that she had to hold herself back from abusing the person across the table. Yet, as she put it, she had an itch to work—and that itch eventually made her one of the most memorable faces on Indian television.
Her career was never limited to television. She appeared in several films over the years, including Jackie Shroff’s Hafta Bandh, Lakshmanrekha, Shatranj, Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar, Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye, Krishna Cottage, and the comedy One Two Three. Her big-screen highlight came when she starred opposite Akshay Kumar in Rustom, which went on to collect Rs 216.35 crore worldwide.
Childhood struggles and abuse
Her hardships, however, began long before her acting career. Usha spoke openly about the violent childhood she endured. Her father, an Air Force officer, and her mother, a teacher, ruled the house with extreme discipline. Even a slightly crumpled newspaper or untidy schoolbooks could trigger his rage. She recalled her father being a "very violent man", and she and her brother were terrified of him. On Bharti and Haarsh's podcast, she recalled one incident that left a permanent mark. While trying to stop her father from beating her brother, she was attacked with a curved knife (machete), suffering an arm injury. Despite this, she went ahead and performed in a play the very next day, hiding her pain behind her passion.
Usha Nadkarni first became a household name through Pavitra Rishta, where she starred from 2009 to 2014 alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Ankita Lokhande. Her fiery portrayal of the fiery Savita Deshmukh won her immense recognition. However, while on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Usha revealed how both her parents were against her dream of becoming an actress. When she first expressed her desire to act, her mother reacted by throwing all her clothes into the street and kicking her out of the house. With nowhere to go, she stayed with a friend for a week until her father eventually came and brought her back home.
Her early TV days
In another interview with Pinkvilla, Usha reflected on her early television days, admitting how tough negotiations were when she landed Pavitra Rishta. She revealed she almost lost her temper during the fee discussions, joking that she had to hold herself back from abusing the person across the table. Yet, as she put it, she had an itch to work—and that itch eventually made her one of the most memorable faces on Indian television.
Her career was never limited to television. She appeared in several films over the years, including Jackie Shroff’s Hafta Bandh, Lakshmanrekha, Shatranj, Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar, Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye, Krishna Cottage, and the comedy One Two Three. Her big-screen highlight came when she starred opposite Akshay Kumar in Rustom, which went on to collect Rs 216.35 crore worldwide.
Childhood struggles and abuse
Her hardships, however, began long before her acting career. Usha spoke openly about the violent childhood she endured. Her father, an Air Force officer, and her mother, a teacher, ruled the house with extreme discipline. Even a slightly crumpled newspaper or untidy schoolbooks could trigger his rage. She recalled her father being a "very violent man", and she and her brother were terrified of him. On Bharti and Haarsh's podcast, she recalled one incident that left a permanent mark. While trying to stop her father from beating her brother, she was attacked with a curved knife (machete), suffering an arm injury. Despite this, she went ahead and performed in a play the very next day, hiding her pain behind her passion.
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