Shriya Pilgaonkar: ‘My father completed 60 years in the industry, never heard him utter the word tired’ I Exclusive 

Father's Day 2024: Shriya Pilgaonkar speaks about the impact of her father Sachin Pilgaonkar's sixty year thriving career on her life and work

Actor Shriya Pilgaonakar does not have to step out of her home in search of inspiration for the career path that she is in. Known for her work in 'Fan', ‘Guilty Minds’, 'The Broken News’, and others, Shriya is also the daughter of the talented artists Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar. Having grown up in such a household, artistic abilities have surely rubbed off on her. While both her parents have a strong influence on her, on the occasion of father’s day, we look at Shriya’s bond with Sachin Pilgaonkar and how his rich journey inspired her to take the creative path and explore more than one thing.

Father’s advice: 

Talking about her father in an exclusive interview with mid-day.com, Shriya said, “This year my father completed 60 years in the industry. There are only a handful of people who have managed to have a thriving career for so long. My father at the age of 5 won his first National award for a Marathi film called 'Ha Maza Marg Ekla (1962)'. Throughout his career, he has taken so many roles in acting, direction, choreography producing, and singing, which always inspired me. He has always told me never to stop learning and learn from my juniors and seniors. He has always told me that the best way to be different is to be yourself and that no work is too big or small. When I see the love and goodwill he has, that really makes me understand what the joy of being an actor is!”

Shriya stresses that her love for stories comes from her father who used to narrate new stories to her every night when she was a kid. “He would take me on an adventure with all these characters he would create. Somewhere my love for stories and  cinema comes from all the stories that my father told me as a child.”

Collaborating with her father: 

When Shriya decided to take the path of acting, Sachin Pilgaonkar was more than happy and supportive. “He's somebody who has introduced many actors and writers. So when he saw me perform on stage for the first time he didn't look at it as his daughter performing but he saw an artist performing on stage.” After watching her perform on stage, the father-daughter duo worked together for Shriya’s debut Marathi film ‘Ekulti Ek’ which was directed, produced and co-starred by her father. 

On what keeps him relevant even after 60 years: 

“I'm so proud of him. He's finished shooting for his 23rd film as a director and he has acted in more than 200 films. He's still hungry to do more, still passionate. For me, that is the most beautiful example that I have before me, which inspires me to work harder and to do better,” the actress shared. 

Elaborating on how her father keeps himself relevant, Shriya said, “I have seen my father handle his sixty-year career with so much passion, love, and grace and strength. Never heard him utter the word tired. He truly loves his work and it is his genuine passion for growth that has allowed him to explore or expand in so many directions, that makes him and his work relevant today.” 

Taking advice and feedback:

Sachin and Supriya have always encouraged their daughter, Shriya to follow her instincts and carve her path. But they are always there whenever she reaches out for guidance, says Shriya. “My father helps me a lot with my dialects. He always told me as an actor, no one should be able to tell based on how you speak, where you're from. And he is so good with languages and that's why he's been able to work in so many different film industries as well. I enjoy discussing cinema and film with him. He has such incredible stories and his experience is invaluable to me.”

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