Veteran actress Rambha, known for her vibrant screen presence in the '90s, has opened up about a dramatic moment from her acting days — a moment when her mother slapped her during a shoot in front of industry veterans Prabhu and Sathyaraj.

In a recent conversation with Behindwoods Kadhaipoma with Kala, Rambha recounted how her mother, who accompanied her to shoots both in India and abroad, never hesitated to discipline her — even on set.

Petrol bomb mishap during ‘Sivasakthi’ shoot

The incident occurred during the filming of ‘Sivasakthi’ in Mauritius. Rambha recalled that a fight sequence was being shot, with petrol bombs laid out as part of the scene. The fight master had strictly warned the crew to remain indoors due to the risk of explosion under the scorching afternoon sun.

“My mom told me not to step out, but I was bored,” Rambha said. “I walked outside with my Walkman, unaware that I was standing directly above one of the petrol bombs.”

Rambha admitted she didn’t understand Tamil well at the time and didn’t realise the fight master was shouting at her for a serious reason. “I thought, ‘I’m the heroine, why is he yelling?’ and argued back.” The director and crew rushed over in alarm. When the situation was explained to her mother — that Rambha had unknowingly put herself in serious danger — the actress received a tight slap across the cheek.

“She didn’t even wait. She slapped me right on my cheek and told me to apologise,” Rambha said. “Everyone was shocked. Prabhu sir, Sathyaraj sir, Sujatha madam — they all told my mom, ‘Don’t hit a grown-up girl like this.’ But my mother slapped me again and said, ‘If I don’t hit her, she’ll never learn.’”

‘I owe everything to my mother’

Now settled with her family after stepping away from the limelight post-marriage, Rambha expressed deep gratitude for her mother’s sacrifices and strength.

“When I became an actress, my parents gave up their freedom for me. I’ve never gone to a film set alone — either my mom or dad or someone from the family was always with me,” she said. “Even abroad, my mother was there. She’s soft by nature but also the strongest woman I know.”

Reflecting on her career, Rambha described herself as a girl from a middle-class family who started acting at 12 and experienced “many miracles” in life. “I never felt like I missed out on anything. If one language didn’t offer me work, another would. After films, I was blessed with a wonderful family life too. What more could a woman want?”