There was a time when the telecast of Ramayana would bring bustling towns and villages to a complete standstill. Among the beloved characters, actress Pushpa Verma, who captivated audiences as Sulochana—the beautiful daughter-in-law of Ravana and wife of Meghnath—has now taken on a new role. In the twilight of her illustrious career, she is set to appear as the grandmother of superstar Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ in the Bhojpuri film Balma Bada Naadan.
Reflecting on her golden days, Pushpa Verma shared in an intimate conversation after returning from the film set, “Festivals today lack the vibrancy we experienced during the early days of my career. Since my debut in Ramayana, the world has transformed, moving from reel to digital. While the industry has grown globally, the communal joy and celebration have dwindled. People prefer isolated lives over social togetherness.”
Verma, who reached career heights playing character roles, once performed a memorable dance number with Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar in Mehul Kumar’s film Kohram. The song “Hum Hain Banaras Ke Bhaiya” remains a classic. She fondly recalled attending her first Diwali celebration at Bachchan’s residence, Prateeksha, saying, “Applying the ceremonial tika to Amitabh ji was one of my most cherished memories.”
During Diwali in those days, handwritten greeting cards were a common tradition. Pushpa often embellished her cards with lyrics from her own songs. Despite the passing of time, she feels a renewed sense of belonging and respect in the Bhojpuri film industry, noting, “Stars like Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan have shown me immense love and admiration, which fills me with pride.”
Currently playing the role of Nirahua’s grandmother, Pushpa described Balma Bada Naadan as an emotional journey centered on the special bond between a grandmother and her grandson. “Portraying this character came naturally to me as I already enjoy life as a grandmother at home. Becoming the on-screen grandmother to a superstar like Dinesh, who is equally kind-hearted, felt seamless,” she expressed. Nirahua, speaking about her, said, “I grew up watching her films, and to now play her grandson is an unparalleled honor.”
For Pushpa Verma, these moments are what make life beautiful. “These small joys are my celebrations now. This is my Diwali,” she concluded with warmth, vowing to live with gratitude and vibrancy.
