Mumbai, October 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran actor-filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar has recalled how his daughter, actor Shriya Pilgaonkar, surprised him by asking to read the script before accepting the lead role in her debut film, rather than immediately agreeing to his offer.
Sachin shared the anecdote during a special episode of the quiz reality show Kon Honar Crorepati, hosted by Madhuri Dixit. He appeared on the show alongside actor Madhurani Gokhale to promote their film Kaapus Kondyachi Gosht.
Recalling the beginnings of Shriya’s acting journey, Sachin said he first recognised her potential after watching her perform in a 10-minute play. Shriya had invited both her parents, Sachin and actor Supriya Pilgaonkar, to watch the performance.
He said her acting impressed him from the very first scene, prompting him to consider casting her in a film he was planning to make.
“On the way home, I told her, ‘Shriya, I feel like making a film, and I would like you to act in it.’ That thought came to me only after watching her work. Before that, it had never occurred to me,” he recalled.
However, Shriya’s response caught him off guard. Instead of accepting immediately, she asked to read the script before making a decision.
“She immediately said, ‘Give me a script. I’ll read it and let you know.’ I fell silent. I thought, ‘She is my daughter, after all,’” Sachin said.
Shriya eventually liked the script and agreed to the project. Sachin said she won several awards for her first film and subsequently established herself through her own work.
The film was Ekulti Ek, a Marathi drama released in 2013, written, directed and produced by Sachin. It marked Shriya’s lead acting debut on the big screen.
Shriya later made her Hindi film debut in Maneesh Sharma’s Fan (2016), starring Shah Rukh Khan. Her other film credits include Bhangra Paa Le, Haathi Mere Saathi, Ishq-e-Nadaan and Dry Day.
She has also built a presence in digital entertainment, appearing in series such as Mirzapur, The Gone Game, Crackdown, Guilty Minds, The Broken News and Taaza Khabar, alongside more recent projects Mandala Murders and Chhal Kapat: The Deception.
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