'I lost my identity and became like a puppet': Shanthi Krishna opens up about her marriages

Veteran actress Shanthi Krishna has opened up about her personal struggles, revealing how her two marriages shaped her life and career. In a deeply emotional interview with Tamil media outlet Galatta Pink, the actress shared her experiences, stating that despite her hardships, cinema has been her ultimate support.

Shanthi Krishna, who has been married twice, reflected on how neither of her marriages worked out. “I got married at a very young age. I married in 1984, and unexpectedly, I had to step away from cinema. I made a comeback in 1991 with a Mammootty film. In between, I went through divorce and experienced ups and downs in my personal life,” she said. Her first marriage lasted 12 years, and after a period of focus on her career, she remarried and moved to the United States, where she had two children.

However, her second marriage, which lasted 18 years, also ended in divorce. “Through all of this, cinema has been my support, pulling me out of many struggles,” she added. While living in the US, she was entirely focused on her family, even forgetting she was once an actress.

The actress admitted that getting married at 19 was not a well-thought-out decision. “At that age, one has many romanticised ideas about marriage and love. My family questioned whether I was making the right choice, but I was stubborn. Some people learn from others’ experiences, while some need to go through their own to understand. I fall into the latter category,” she said.

Speaking about her second marriage, she shared how she lost herself in the process. “In the beginning, my second marriage seemed fine, but over time, I lost myself completely. I became like a puppet, simply following orders, unable to think for myself. It was a difficult phase. I had no personal income and was entirely dependent on someone else. I lost my own identity.”

Her return to cinema with Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela marked a turning point. “When I returned, I realised something: ‘Is this what freedom feels like? Is this what life is supposed to be?’ I was amazed at how much happiness and peace I had missed all these years.”

A message for women

Shanthi Krishna urged women to prioritise their individuality. “Women should never lose their identity. They have equal rights to be happy. They have a life too. I realised all this quite late. When I see today’s younger generation speaking up for their rights, I wonder why I never thought that way. Why didn’t I ask those questions?”

She admitted that she tolerated many things in her second marriage because she did not want it to end in divorce like the first. “I desperately wanted it to work. But now, looking back, I question myself—why did I tolerate everything? I was like a puppet.”

Her detachment from cinema was so complete that she was unaware of industry developments. “When I was offered Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, I didn’t even know who Nivin Pauly was. Many were shocked, but that was the truth. Even my children didn’t know I was once a film star. It was only when people took photos with me in malls that they realised.”

Coping with loneliness

Now living in India while her children are in the US, the actress admitted that loneliness sometimes affects her. “When I have no work, loneliness creeps in. If I want to go out, I have to go alone. I never wanted to live alone. Going out with friends is different. But my marriages didn’t work out. Sometimes, I wonder if it was my fault. Then, I remind myself—it was not my fault.”

Despite her struggles, Shanthi Krishna remains grateful for the support she has received from cinema. She continues to act and believes her journey has been a lesson in resilience and self-discovery.