Bhumi Pednekkar has often spoken about the deep bond she shared with her father and the lasting influence he had on her life. In an exclusive segment on mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist, the actress reflected on his political journey, revealing how he stepped away from an active career to prioritise his family soon after she was born.
Bhumi Pednekkar recalls her father`s early political career
Opening up about his early years in public service, Bhumi said, “Dad was a very active politician. I did not see him in that phase of his life because he quit politics right about the time that I came into this world. For personal reasons, he had his own, and so I did not see him in that mould.” She added that his achievements were remarkable for someone so young. “He was also very young when he became a minister; I think he was all of 27 or 28. He was actually one of the youngest ministers in Maharashtra, but I unfortunately did not see him in service.”
Despite not witnessing his political career firsthand, Bhumi recognises the dedication it must have required. “But he was an MLA, which means he would have a conscience that he would have nurtured over time. It`s not easy to become an MLA, and he was one from Parel, which is a very intense constituency in Mumbai.”
The actress also spoke candidly about losing her father at a relatively young age. “I also lost my father many years ago. I was a young adult, when that happened, so I have a fair, good share of memories with him. But I do vicariously kind of peep into that life of his through pictures and through colleagues of his that I meet, and I`m constantly meeting people who worked with him then. He was very, very loved.”
When asked whether politics ever appealed to her as a career, Bhumi acknowledged that the spirit of service runs deep in her family. “I just feel like service and giving back, and I say it most humbly, are a very big part of who I am, my upbringing, and the values that have been passed on to us from both sides of my family.”
Bhumi Pednekkar reveals how her parents met, and their love story
She went on to share a touching detail about her parents’ love story. “My parents actually met at a youth congress gathering. Both my parents were activists. My mom was a journalist; she was studying journalism then, and she was a part of the youth congress in Haryana, and that`s how they`d met. I just feel like it`s in my blood.”
Expressing her strong sense of patriotism, Bhumi added, “I love my country; I have a very big patriotic side to me. if I get an opportunity to serve it in any capacity, why not. I want to do better; I want my country to flourish.”
She also believes that her professional choices reflect this intention. “I think even the movies that I do truly do come from that intention, a large part of the cinema that I resonate with or that I`ve been a part of kind of does come from it; it is my way of also living in a world where I truly hope that my country shines the brightest.”
Through her memories, Bhumi painted a heartfelt portrait of a father whose legacy continues to shape her values, ambitions, and enduring commitment to giving back.