Veteran actor Supriya Pathak speaks candidly 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 interview with Haterrfly, the actress reflected on growing up in a time when conversations about menstruation were almost non-existent.
“I thought it was a penalty”
Recalling her first time, Supriya said she had no awareness of it. “No one told me anything, not my mother, my grandmother, not even my close relatives. I didn’t even know periods existed,” she shared.The experience left him scared and confused. “I was at school when it happened, and I thought it was a punishment for something I had done wrong. I thought I had made a mistake and this was God punishing me,” he said.After he went home, his mother calmed him down. “He told me it’s normal, but he 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 actor admitted that his experience prompted him to approach things in a different way with his daughter Sanah Kapur. “For me, communication became very important. I didn’t want him to go through the same trauma,” he said, speaking more clearly that today’s generation is gradually breaking those taboos.
‘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 glad I wasn’t going to be tied down every month,” she said.Physically, he revealed that his experience was quite smooth. “I had minor rashes, but nothing major. It was very gradual, and I consider myself lucky,” she shared.However, the emotional change was much more significant. “During menopause, I became more individualistic. In my life, I’ve always put others first—family, people around me—but at that stage, I started thinking about myself,” she explains.
A turning point in self-realization
Supriya also spoke about a deeper realization that came with the transition. “I felt that I had done so much for others, but in the end, no one was very happy. So I began to ask: why did I do so much?” he saidCalling it an important turning point, the actress added that menopause helped her reassess her priorities and sense of self.
