Padmini Kolhapure Husband – You probably know Padmini Kolhapure as the wide-eyed Bollywood starlet who ruled the 1980s with films like Prem Rog and Woh 7 Din. But behind that famous smile sits one of Hindi cinema’s most daring love stories — one that involved climbing walls, defying parents, and marrying a man her family didn’t approve of. This Padmini Kolhapure husband biography pulls back the curtain on Pradeep “Tutu” Sharma, the Jaipur-born film producer who stole her heart on a film set and never let go.
It’s a story with everything — old-school glamour, family drama, a midnight escape, and a marriage that’s outlasted plenty of “perfect” Bollywood unions. Let’s get into it.
Who Is Padmini Kolhapure’s Husband?
Padmini Kolhapure’s husband is Pradeep Sharma, who’s better known in the industry by his nickname, Tutu Sharma. He’s a film producer who’s been part of Hindi cinema for decades, with movies like Zakhmi Sher, Mar Mitenge, Mahaarani, Paanch, Direct Ishq, and One Night Stand on his resume.
The two got married in 1986, and they’ve been together ever since. They share one son, Priyaank Sharma, who was born in February 1990 and has carved his own path in Bollywood as an actor and assistant director.
If you’re a fan of classic Bollywood storytelling, you might also enjoy this read on the Arijit Singh biography — another musical icon whose journey shaped modern Hindi cinema.
Pradeep Sharma’s Early Life and Background
Born in Jaipur, Rooted in Cinema
Pradeep Sharma was born in 1960 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He didn’t just stumble into the film business — it was practically in his blood. His father, Jagan Sharma, had real connections to Bollywood. In fact, the senior Sharma is credited with introducing legendary actor Rishi Kapoor to the Hindi film industry, which says a lot about the family’s standing in the business.
So while Padmini grew up in Mumbai surrounded by music (she’s the niece of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle), Pradeep was raised in a household where film was constantly in the air, just a few cities away.
Education and First Steps Into Film
Pradeep attended St. Xavier’s School in Jaipur before relocating to Mumbai for higher studies. He didn’t waste any time after that. By the age of 20, he had already produced his first film. That kind of early start gave him a solid head start in an industry where most producers spend years just trying to break in.
For more context on Bollywood’s powerful family trees, check out our Shanaya Kapoor biography, where another insider’s story shows how Bollywood lineage opens doors.
Pradeep “Tutu” Sharma’s Career as a Producer
Notable Films He Produced
Tutu Sharma’s career as a producer spans more than four decades. His best-known projects include:
- Zakhmi Sher (1984)
- Aisa Pyaar Kahan (1986) — the film where he met Padmini
- Mar Mitenge (1988)
- Mahaarani (1996)
- Paanch (Anurag Kashyap’s controversial film)
- Tera Kya Hoga Johnny
- Direct Ishq
- One Night Stand
He’s not the kind of producer who chases trends. His filmography mixes commercial entertainers with edgier, content-driven projects, which shows a producer willing to take risks.
His Father’s Bollywood Legacy
We mentioned Jagan Sharma earlier, but it’s worth slowing down here. The fact that Pradeep’s dad was the man who brought Rishi Kapoor into films isn’t a small detail — it’s the kind of legacy that opens doors most outsiders can’t even knock on. When Padmini’s family resisted the union, it wasn’t because Pradeep was a stranger to the industry. He was very much an insider. Their resistance was about something else entirely.
How Padmini Kolhapure and Pradeep Sharma Met
Their love story started on a film set, the way so many Bollywood romances do. Pradeep was producing a movie called Aisa Pyaar Kahan, and Padmini had been signed as the heroine. According to one account, Pradeep personally went to Padmini’s home to narrate the script — something producers almost never do themselves. That small gesture became the spark.
During the shoot, the two grew close. The chemistry that started on set quietly turned into a real, deep romance. Padmini was around 20 at the time, already a Filmfare Best Actress winner, and one of the most in-demand actresses of the decade. Pradeep was the producer who had her heart.
If you enjoy reading about how artists meet and influence each other, you might also like our RD Burman biography, which explores another famous Bollywood love-and-music partnership.
The Forbidden Romance: Why Her Family Said No
Here’s where things get complicated. Padmini comes from a deeply traditional Maharashtrian family. Her father, Pandharinath Kolhapure, was a respected musician, and her mother, Nirupama (also called Anupama) Kolhapure, ran the household with strict cultural values. In their world, opening your hair in public was already considered too forward — let alone marrying outside your community.
Pradeep, on the other hand, came from a Jaipur-based North Indian family. His background, while perfectly respectable, simply didn’t match the Maharashtrian-Konkani traditions Padmini was raised in. Her parents weren’t trying to be cruel; they were trying to honor the customs they knew. But for Padmini, the heart wanted what it wanted.
The pressure built up. Padmini respected her parents deeply, but she also knew she couldn’t walk away from Pradeep. So she made a choice that would shock her family, the press, and most of Bollywood.
She decided to elope.
Inside the 1986 Elopement Story
The Secret Plan With Poonam Dhillon and Shakti Kapoor
Padmini wasn’t alone in this. Two of her closest people stepped up to make the impossible happen:
- Poonam Dhillon — her best friend, who suggested elopement was the only way out
- Shakti Kapoor — her brother-in-law (married to her elder sister Shivangi), who helped coordinate the escape
Her sister Shivangi was pregnant at the time and on bed rest, so she couldn’t be there in person, but she fully backed the plan from the sidelines.
The plan was simple but risky: get Padmini out of her parents’ house quietly, meet up at a safe location, and get her married before anyone could stop them.
For another fascinating take on Bollywood family dynamics, our Preity Zinta biography covers another actress whose career and personal choices made headlines.
Climbing Over the Wall to Freedom
The morning of the escape, things went into motion fast. According to film historian Hanif Zaveri, Padmini was supposed to meet someone at her Ashoka Apartments home in Juhu, but by the time the visitor arrived, she was already gone. The watchman had no clue. Padmini had literally climbed over the wall behind her house and slipped out without anyone noticing.
Try to picture it for a second. A 20-year-old Filmfare-winning actress, one of the biggest stars of the 80s, hopping a wall to run off and marry the man she loved. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a film script — except this was real life.
The Wedding at Ashok Thakeria’s House
Padmini and Pradeep got married at the home of producer Ashok Thakeria, who was Poonam Dhillon’s then-husband. The setting was small and private — a far cry from the glittery Bollywood weddings we see today. Veteran actor Jeetendra, a close friend of Tutu Sharma, was also present at the apartment called Jaldarshan on Pincy Road, where the celebration took place.
In a Filmfare interview, Padmini herself confirmed: Shivangi and Shakti were totally supportive when I got married. We got married in producer Ashok Thakeria’s house. Shivangi was pregnant and was advised bed rest, so she wasn’t part of the wedding. Yes, my parents were upset but they eventually reconciled.
The shoot for Aisa Pyaar Kahan — the very film that brought them together — was thrown into chaos. Padmini’s portions had to be rescheduled and reshot. But by then, the deed was done. Mr. and Mrs. Sharma were officially married.
Honeymoon, Reception, and Family Reconciliation
After the secret wedding, Padmini and Pradeep flew to Jaipur, his hometown, where his father Jagan Sharma organized a reception for them. From there, they jetted off to London for their honeymoon. Pradeep later recalled that on the flight to Jaipur, the entire plane stood up and applauded the newlyweds — a cinematic moment in itself.
Back in Mumbai, Jeetendra hosted a separate reception for the couple, and slowly, family wounds began to heal. Padmini’s parents, who had been hurt by the elopement, eventually came around. Once Priyaank was born in 1990, the family fully reconciled. Padmini even moved back in with her parents during that period so her son could grow up surrounded by his grandparents’ values — what she called sanskars in interviews.
It’s a reminder that even the messiest family conflicts can heal with time, a baby, and a little patience.
Their Son Priyaank Sharma
Bollywood Debut and Career
Priyaank Sharma, born February 5, 1990, is Padmini and Pradeep’s only child. He started his Bollywood journey behind the camera, assisting filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi on Phata Poster Nikla Hero (2013) — a film his mother also appeared in.
He stepped in front of the camera with Sab Kushal Mangal (2020), marking his official acting debut. Beyond acting, Priyaank has taken on industry leadership too. Since 2024, he’s been the Senior Vice President of CINTAA (the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association), one of Bollywood’s most important professional bodies.
For another inside look at Bollywood’s next generation, see our Sara Arjun biography — another young star carrying forward the tradition.
Marriage to Shaza Morani
On February 4, 2021, Priyaank tied the knot with Shaza Morani, the daughter of producer Karim Morani and the sister of actress Zoa Morani. They had a court marriage but threw a lavish pre-wedding celebration in the Maldives. The wedding officially connected two well-known Bollywood families — the Sharmas and the Moranis — and added another layer to Padmini’s already star-studded extended family, which includes niece Shraddha Kapoor and nephew Siddhanth Kapoor.
Pradeep Sharma’s Estimated Net Worth
While there’s no official public figure for Pradeep “Tutu” Sharma’s individual net worth, reports estimate his wife Padmini Kolhapure’s net worth at around ₹50 crore (approximately $1.5 million). As a producer with multiple successful films across four decades, plus property and investments, Pradeep’s combined assets with Padmini are believed to be substantial, with the family well-established in Mumbai’s elite production circuit.
Together they live in Mumbai, and both remain active in the film business — Pradeep through production projects and Padmini through acting roles in films and OTT shows.
For a sense of how wealth builds across Bollywood families, our Anant Ambani biography offers another lens on India’s high-net-worth circles.
Padmini and Tutu Sharma Today: Four Decades Strong
It’s been nearly 40 years since that wall-climbing wedding day in 1986, and Padmini and Tutu Sharma are still together. That’s something worth pausing on. Bollywood marriages, especially ones that start with this much drama, often don’t make it past a decade. Theirs has.
Padmini has spoken publicly about regretting the way she eloped — she once said things might have turned out differently if she’d been more patient with her parents. But she’s never regretted choosing Pradeep. They’ve raised a son, built businesses, weathered the ups and downs of the industry, and held on through it all.
Padmini, meanwhile, hasn’t slowed down. She’s appeared in films like Phata Poster Nikla Hero and Panipat, launched her fashion label PadmaSitaa with friend Sita Talwalkar, and stayed visible on TV and streaming platforms.
Their love story is proof that sometimes the riskiest choice is the right one. If you’re curious about other powerful women in cinema, our Shreya Ghoshal biography explores another iconic voice in Indian entertainment.
Quick Facts About Padmini Kolhapure’s Husband
Here’s a clean rundown of the key facts about Pradeep “Tutu” Sharma:
- Full Name: Pradeep Sharma
- Nickname: Tutu Sharma
- Year of Birth: 1960
- Birthplace: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Father: Jagan Sharma (introduced Rishi Kapoor to Bollywood)
- Education: St. Xavier’s School, Jaipur; later studies in Mumbai
- Profession: Film Producer
- Wife: Padmini Kolhapure
- Year of Marriage: 1986
- Son: Priyaank Sharma (b. February 5, 1990)
- Daughter-in-law: Shaza Morani
- Notable Films: Zakhmi Sher, Mar Mitenge, Mahaarani, Aisa Pyaar Kahan, Paanch, Direct Ishq, One Night Stand
- Residence: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
For more on the deep musical roots of Padmini’s family, our Usha Mangeshkar biography explores her aunt’s incredible journey in playback singing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Padmini Kolhapure’s husband? Padmini Kolhapure’s husband is Pradeep Sharma, also known as Tutu Sharma. He’s a Hindi film producer who’s been working in Bollywood since the early 1980s.
How did Padmini Kolhapure meet her husband? They met on the sets of Aisa Pyaar Kahan in 1986. Pradeep was producing the film, and Padmini was the lead actress. Their on-set chemistry quickly turned into a real-life romance.
Why did Padmini Kolhapure elope? Her conservative Maharashtrian family opposed the marriage because Pradeep was from a Jaipur-based North Indian family. The cultural and community differences led her parents to reject the union, so Padmini chose to elope with help from her sister Shivangi, brother-in-law Shakti Kapoor, and best friend Poonam Dhillon.
Who helped Padmini Kolhapure get married? Poonam Dhillon suggested the elopement plan, while Shakti Kapoor helped organize everything. The wedding took place at the home of producer Ashok Thakeria (Poonam’s then-husband), and actor Jeetendra was also present.
Does Padmini Kolhapure have children? Yes, Padmini and Pradeep have one son, Priyaank Sharma, born on February 5, 1990. He’s an actor, assistant director, and the Senior Vice President of CINTAA since 2024.
Is Padmini Kolhapure still married to Pradeep Sharma? Yes, they’ve been married since 1986 — nearly four decades — and continue to live together in Mumbai with their family.
What films has Pradeep Sharma produced? Some of his notable productions include Zakhmi Sher (1984), Aisa Pyaar Kahan (1986), Mar Mitenge (1988), Mahaarani (1996), Paanch, Direct Ishq, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, and One Night Stand.
How old is Pradeep Sharma? Born in 1960, Pradeep “Tutu” Sharma is around 65 years old in 2025, making him about five years older than Padmini Kolhapure.