Born in an enlightened, affluent upper middle class family, Durga grew up in a household that loved Marathi theatre and Hindustani classical music. She was married into an equally affluent family. Her first husband, Vishwanath Kashinath Khote, was "handsome, pampered, raised in luxury, always cheerful, terribly irresponsible and self-willed". It was her need for financial independence and to support her adored sons Bakul and Harin that drove Durga into films when cinema was considered an unsuitable option for women like her.