‘Missing Ladies’ fame Chhaya Kadam once used to earn Rs 250 a day, from playing the role of Amitabh’s wife to reaching the Oscars

Chhaya Kadam, who became famous for her role in ‘Laapta Ladies’, had never thought that she would enter the field of acting. She used to be a Kabaddi player then and now after ‘Laapta Ladies’ got nominated for Oscar, she has become the headlines of the news. This actress, who belongs to a simple labourer family, used to earn 250 rupees a day and today she has made the journey to Oscar. Let us know about her journey in presswire18 Times’ ‘Wow Wednesday’ series today, how Chhaya Kadam, born and brought up in a poor family, made her journey to Bollywood. Many years ago, around 2001, Chhaya Kadam did not step out of her house for months. She told in one of her interviews, ‘That year both my father and brother died one after the other.’ She said that she was searching for ways to get out of this life and then she saw an advertisement of an acting workshop in a newspaper. This simple decision taken to overcome his/her grief changed his/her life forever.

Praises pour in for ‘Missing Ladies’

Now let’s talk about the year 2024 and today Kadam is being discussed everywhere. She is ruling the big screen, small screen and even international film festivals. Her brilliant performance in ‘Missing Ladies’ has not only earned her praises all over the world but her film has also received official entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Kadam’s character of ‘Manju Maayi’ in the film

Let us remind you that in this film, Kadam is seen in the role of ‘Manju Mai’ who runs her own tea shop. Her character in the film touched the hearts of the people a lot, she is a woman who is tough from outside but at the same time has the same kindness inside her. After facing the abuse and insult from her husband, she has become tough and after this she also teaches others to be self-reliant. This was about the film but if we look at her profession, she did not get this success overnight.

Kadam is from a working class background

Born in Kalina, Mumbai, Kadam hails from a working class background. Initially, she dreamt of playing Kabaddi as a profession and even reached the state level. Later, she decided to open a gym or join the police. She never dreamt of acting.

The role was such that he/she had only one scene

While talking to ‘The Better India’, she told her story, ‘I had no plans to become an actor, it all happened suddenly.’ While doing different jobs and supporting the family, Kadam entered the world of Marathi theatre. It is said that Kadam’s first film was never released and her first Bollywood role was one in which she had only one scene.

This role was offered to him/her in the absence of the lead actor

Yet she was not one to give up and was determined to move forward. Early in her career, she approached a director for a role in Doordarshan, but was told that the casting had already been done and was offered an assistant’s position instead. She accepted, but then the role was offered to her in the absence of the lead actor. “It was one of those moments when I knew I was in the right place at the right time. What is meant for you will come to you,” Kadam said.

I used to get 250 rupees per day

However, Kadam often doubted whether she even looked like an actress, in an industry where looks, contacts and fluent English often determine success. She said, “I started earning Rs 250 per day. Everyone around me seemed younger, smarter and more connected.”

Ranjana’s role in ‘Jhund’ with Amitabh Bachchan

In the year 2013, she was also praised in ‘Fandry’ in which she played the strong character of Nani, a woman struggling with caste oppression. After this, she was seen playing brilliant characters in some Marathi films like ‘Sairat’ and created her strong image. After this, in the year 2018, apart from Sriram Raghavan’s film ‘Andhadhun’, in the year 2022, she played the role of Ranjana in ‘Jhund’ with Amitabh Bachchan in which she got the privilege of playing the role of his/her wife.

From Cannes Film Festival to Oscar

Chaaya said that she simply listened to her inner voice which led her to her first acting workshop in the year 2001. In May 2024, after almost 23 years, Kadam made her screen appearance not once but twice at the biggest film festival ‘Cannes’. Apart from Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’, Karan Kandhari’s ‘Sister Midnight’ has forever become a part of her great films.