Variety drives and defines Ratna Pathak Shah, who has left a mark in whichever medium she has pursued, big screen, small screen or stage. Hemchhaya De examines her body of work.
It was an unusually cold January evening in Kolkata, but the crowd that had gathered on the lawns adjacent to the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral was warming up for a starry session at a literary festival in Kolkata. Aparna Sen, Mira Nair, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nandana Dev Sen and Ratna Pathak Shah were to speak on women in media ‘crossing the lines’. While the internationally acclaimed filmmakers on the panel gave the audience enough food for thought, it was the inimitable Pathak Shah who won hearts with her remarkable witticism. Sample this: “I have this fear… supposing World War III happens, and it will happen sooner than you or I think, and civilisation as we know it comes to an end, what if future generations only find Salman Khan’s Dabangg as a reference point for our entire civilisation and all of humanity… (In that case) what will a future person or an alien say about us?” Or this: “My generation has grown up watching films where Shammi Kapoor teased heroines mercilessly, in the most awkward and ugly way possible, and all she had to say about it was, ‘you stupid!’ So men of my generation thought that’s all they are going to get, ‘You stupid!’ So they continued to behave in ridiculous ways...” There was, of course, a context to these— Pathak Shah was talking about how films are a record of their times and how popular cinema moulds our minds in many ways.
Off-stage too, Pathak Shah’s self-deprecating, wry humour was evident in the exclusive chat she had with Femina.
Life after Lipstick...
This story is from the January 24, 2019 edition of Femina.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 24, 2019 edition of Femina.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
AGAINST ALL ODDS
SAIKA ISHAQUE's cricketing journey is a remarkable story of resilience, determination, and triumph against adversity, writes Kayal Arivalan
MASTERING THE ART OF TEACHING
DR SANGHAMITRA BUDDHAPRIYA talks to Ravina M Sachdev about her many accomplishments and her inspiration to become a professor
ART ATTACK
KANIKA RANKA ADANI, founder of The Studio Project, talks to Ravina M Sachdev about turning her passion into her profession
GLOBAL CRAVINGS
PLAKA in Bengaluru promises an exceptional dining experience for casual dining enthusiasts eager to explore international cuisines
TAKE A BREAK IN GANGTOK
Nestled amid the breathtaking landscapes of the Eastern Himalayas, Gangtok is a serene choice for your summer vacation
NOURISHING THE NEW MOTHER
The right nutrition can help new mothers recover and feel stronger.
HOW'S YOUR AURA DOING TODAY?
Do you have a positively-charged aura? Prachi Rijhwani helps you find out
QUIT RIGHT
Pratyasha Sarkar shares ways to quit your job without burning your bridges
WRITE YOURSELF SUCCESSFUL!
Riddhima Shishupal shares ways by which you can ace professional communication
BEAT THE BURNOUT
Here are expert-backed tips to prevent burnout at work