Veteran actress Supriya Pathak spoke candidly about two deeply personal stages in a woman’s life – her first menstrual period and menopause – and revealed how both experiences shaped her understanding of herself. Recalling her first menstrual period, Supriya said she had no awareness of it at all. Speaking about menopause, Supriya described it as a “strange phase”, but one that brought an unexpected sense of freedom.
Veteran actress Supriya Pathak spoke candidly about two deeply personal stages in a woman’s life – her first menstrual period and menopause – and revealed how both experiences shaped her understanding of herself.In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, the actress talked about growing up in an era where conversations about menstruation were almost non-existent.
“I thought it was punishment”
Recalling her first menstrual period, Supriya said she had no awareness of it at all. “No one told me anything, not my mother, my grandmother, or even my close relatives,” she said. “I didn’t even know I had a period.”This experience left her afraid and confused. “I was at school when it happened, and I thought it was punishment for a mistake I had made.
“I thought I had made a mistake and this was God’s punishment for me,” she said.Her mother did not reassure her until she returned home. “She told me this was normal, but she didn’t explain much more than that, like how often it happens or what to expect,” Supriya added, highlighting the taboo that existed at the time.
Breaking the silence for the next generation
The actress admitted that her own experience led her to handle things differently with her daughter, Sana Kapoor.
“For me, communication has become very important. I didn’t want her to go through the same trauma,” she said, adding that today’s generation is gradually breaking these taboos by speaking more openly.
He watches
Supriya Pathak recalls the time she faced a financial crisis: ‘I was looking for an affordable home’
‘menopause “It made me think about myself.”
Speaking about menopause, Supriya described it as a “strange phase”, but one that brought an unexpected sense of freedom. “I was happy because I wouldn’t be obligated every month,” she said.Physically, she revealed that her experience was relatively smooth.
“I’ve had minor hot flashes, but nothing major. It’s been very gradual, and I consider myself lucky,” she said.However, the emotional shift was far more important. “During menopause, I became more individualistic. For most of my life, I always put others first – family and people around me – but during that phase, I started to think about myself,” she explained.
A turning point in self-realization
Supriya also spoke about the deeper realization that came with the transition. “I felt like I did a lot for others, but in the end, no one was really happy. So I started to wonder: Why did I do so much?” She said.Describing it as a major turning point, the actress added that menopause helped her reevaluate her priorities and sense of self.