Veteran Bollywood actress Kalpana Iyer, who recently found herself back in the limelight after a video of her dancing to her iconic 1981 song Ramba Ho went viral, has candidly shared the reasons behind her departure from the entertainment industry two decades ago. In an exclusive interview, she opened up about her dissatisfaction with the work environment and her current readiness to return.
Dissatisfaction with Work and Industry Cliques
Kalpana Iyer explained that her decision to step away was primarily driven by unhappiness with the roles and opportunities coming her way. Reflecting on her television and film career, she noted how the industry dynamics shifted over time. "But then a lot of things changed. It all became about the same people, the same cliques. I was not part of any clique, neither in the industry nor in television. And I wasn’t really happy with the kind of work I was getting. So what was the point in continuing?" she told India Today.
Open to Work but on Her Own Terms
Despite moving to Dubai in the late 1990s, Kalpana clarified that she was never unreachable and is now open to working again. When asked if she ever sought assistance from her Hum Saath Saath Hain co-star Salman Khan, known for supporting colleagues, she revealed she never reached out. "I haven’t called anybody, not because I think it’s wrong. But Dubai is not so big that if you want to help me, you can’t find me... I am not going to be looking for somebody to tell that person to [cast me]. If you are an aware person, you are aware of my existence. And if you think that I deserve it, you will get across to me. And if you didn’t, which means I didn’t deserve it. We’ll leave it at that. I won’t blame anyone, and neither do I believe in negativity of any kind," she added.
Renewed Visibility and Career Highlights
Kalpana’s renewed visibility stems from a video of her dancing to Ramba Ho at a family function, which quickly spread online. The song, originally from the film Dhurandhar, topped charts in 1981 and remains one of her most memorable performances. She has since started receiving calls for reality shows and inquiries about the types of roles she is comfortable with.
Notable Filmography and Quiet Exit
Kalpana Iyer featured in several popular films during the 1980s and 1990s, including:
- Satte Pe Satta
- Bade Dilwala
- Hum Paanch
- Laadla
- Anjaam
She is especially remembered for playing Sangeeta in the superhit film Hum Saath Saath Hain, where her character added tension to the family dynamics. Her last film appearance was in Dil Hi Dil Mein in 1999. On television, she appeared in shows such as:
- Kashish
- Junoon
- Chandrakanta
- Farmaan
- Banegi Apni Baat
- Margarita
After leaving Bollywood in 1999, she settled in Dubai, marking a quiet exit from an industry she now expresses willingness to re-engage with, but strictly on her own terms.
