Biography

Padma Khanna

Jump to

Padma Khanna was born in Northern India. She made her debut at the age of 21 in 1961 in an unreleased Bhojpuri film. After the filming of that movie, she realized acting was just not for her. So, she decided to go back home and complete her studies. After a 9 year hiatus, she returned to acting where she was cast as a cabaret dancer in Johny Mera Naam (1970). After that, there was no looking back and she went on to dance in more than 500 movies throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. After her marriage in 1986, she retired from acting and moved to America. She now runs a dance school named Indianica Dance Academy in Iselin, New Jersey. She has a daughter Neha Sidana, and a son Akshar Sidana.
- IMDb mini biography by: facepalm23

Padma Khanna married director and producer Jagdish Sidana, who previously maintained a separate marital union. The couple transitioned from the Indian film industry to the United States in the 1990s, establishing residence in New Jersey. They co-founded Indianica Academy, an institutional center dedicated to the instruction of Kathak dance and classical performing arts.
Son Akshar Sidana serves as an actor and stage performer, frequently appearing in large-scale cultural productions such as those organized by Shen Yun Performing Arts. He is married to Anu Sarin Sidana.
Daughter Neha Sidana also maintains a career as a dancer and choreographer within the family's artistic institution.
Jagdish Sidana directed and produced multiple cinematic features involving Padma Khanna, including the mythological production Tulsi Vivah (1971). The project required specialized choreography to align with traditional spiritual narratives.
Khanna began classical Kathak training at age seven under Pandit Birju Maharaj and Pandit Kishen Maharaj in Varanasi. She later pursued advanced studies in the art form under Padmashri Gopi Krishna. These educational foundations in the Lucknow and Benaras gharanas established her technical proficiency in classical dance before her transition to cinema.

Suggest an edit or add missing content