Kamal Ghorui
Veteran actress Supriya Pathak has candidly spoken about two deeply personal phases of a woman’s life—her first period and menopause—revealing how both experiences shaped her understanding of herself.In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, the actress reflected on growing up in an era where conversations around menstruation were almost non-existent.
‘I thought it was a punishment’
Recalling her first period, Supriya said she had absolutely no awareness about it. “Nobody told me anything—not my mother, grandmother, or even relatives I was close to. I didn’t even know something like periods existed,” she shared.The experience left her frightened and confused. “I was in school when it happened, and I thought it was a punishment for something I had done wrong. I believed I had made a mistake and this was God punishing me,” she said.It was only after she rushed home that her mother reassured her. “She just told me it’s normal, but didn’t explain much beyond that—like how often it happens or what to expect,” Supriya added, highlighting the taboos that existed at the time.
Breaking the silence for the next generation
The actress admitted that her own experience pushed her to approach things differently with her daughter Sanah Kapur. “For me, communication became 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 talking more openly.
‘Menopause made me think about myself’
Opening up about menopause, Supriya described it as a “strange phase,” but one that brought an unexpected sense of freedom. “I was happy that I wouldn’t be bound every month,” she said.Physically, she revealed that her experience was relatively smooth. “I had minor hot flashes, but nothing major. It was very gradual, and I consider myself lucky,” she shared.However, the emotional shift was far more significant. “During menopause, I became more individualistic. For most of my life, I had always put others first—family, people around me—but during that phase, I started thinking about myself,” she explained.
A turning point in self-realisation
Supriya also spoke about a deeper realisation that came with the transition. “I felt I had done so much for others, but in the end, nobody was really happy. So I started questioning—why did I do so much?” she said.Calling it a major turning point, the actress added that menopause helped her reassess her priorities and sense of self.
