Here's all you need to know about the actress who got married at 14, was cheated in love by superstar.
Many actors and actresses, who started their careers as child artistes, failed to make a mark as leading heroes or heroines. One such actress, who was once one of the highest-paid child artistes, never became a leading heroine. The actress we are talking about was cheated in love by a superstar, became a single mother to two daughters, and later made her daughter a superstar. She is none other than Pushpavalli.
1. Who was Pushpavalli?
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Pushpavalli was an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Telugu and Tamil films. She started her career as a child artiste to support her family financially and became popular and one of the highest-paid child artistes in 1930s.
2. Pushpavalli marriage
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Pushpavalli was just 14 years old when she married a Lawyer named I V Rangachari in about 1940. However, the marriage did not last long and they began living apart in 1946. The couple had two children (Babji and Rama) from their marriage.
3. Pushpavalli cheated in love by superstar
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After Pushpavalli met Gemini Ganesan during the shoot of their film Miss Malini. She next worked with Ganesan in the Tamil film Chakradhari (1948), where she was the heroine, and he played a small role. After this point, the situation reversed; Ganesan became a huge star and Pushpavalli started getting only supporting roles. Soon the two fell in love with each other and had two daughters together out of the wedlock. Ganesan neither acknowledged paternity to the daughter nor did he ever give Pushpavalli the status of his wife and thus, soon their relationship ended.
4. Pushpavalli career
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After a successful career as a child artiste, Pushpavalli took a break from films, which might have affected her career as when she came back, the audience couldn't accept her as the leading lady. Most of her films as leading heroine flopped at the box office and she was restricted to supporting roles.
5. Pushpavalli personal life
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After being cheated in love with the superstar Gemini Ganesan, Pushpavalli married K. Prakash, a cinematographer from Madras, and she legally changed her name to K. Pushpavalli. She gave birth to two more children, Dhanalakshmi (who later married the actor Tej Sapru) and the dancer Seshu (who died on May 21, 1991). She was thus the mother of six children. The actress passed away in 1991 after a prolonged illness.
6. Rekha and Pushpavalli
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Pushpavalli and actor Gemini Ganesan had two daughters out of wedlock, Radha and Rekha. When age caught up with Pushpavalli, the film offers dried up, and she was deep in gambling debt. As a result, Rekha was pulled out of school at 14 and made to work in films. “I used to refuse to go to the sets, and occasionally my brother beat me up,” Rekha has said.
7. Rekha
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Rekha became a superstar in Bollywood at a young age despite being mocked for her weight and dark skin. She featured in several hits and blockbusters including Umrao Jaan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Silsila, Khubsoorat, Kalyug, and more. The actress has worked in over 180 films and is regarded as one of the finest actresses in Bollywood.
