Ratna Pathak Shah’s befitting reply to those who call her ‘buddhi’: ‘It’s such a narrowing vision’

Veteran actors, siblings Ratna Pathak Shah and Supriya Pathak opened up about their perspectives on acting in a recent interview and said that performances shouldn’t be restricted by one’s appearance. They said regardless of their age, they will continue to act.

In a conversation with Twinkle Khanna, Ratna said, ‘Soon after I came out of the NSD, I realised that acting is not something that you do while you’re young and pretty. For some reason, that was stuck in my head, that as a woman, you act until you’re young and pretty.

But then I looked around me and I saw so many female actors who were working well into their old age. I saw actresses all over the world doing absolutely stunning work at all kinds of ages.’

Ratna said that she wanted to act her entire life, without worrying about the way she looked.

She called out the beauty standards that exist in the industry and added, ‘Women can get really bogged down in this business of looking pretty. I see young girls around me on a set and I really worry for them sometimes because it’s such a narrowing vision. It makes you look at yourself in such a narrow way.;

Supriya said, ‘The only thing that scares or worries you, how is it going to affect you physically. If you’re ever going to get down to that state, then I’m a little worried about that. Otherwise, growing old is great.’

Ratna further added, ‘It’s also true that today, a woman my age, one, gets work, and two, gets respect. Nobody looks down on me and says, ‘Arre, bechari buddhi.‘’

When asked ‘what would you tell anybody who calls you buddhi or aunty,’ Ratna said ‘Beta, tum bhi aa jaoge. Thoda sa rukh jao.

Tum bhi aa jaoge issi line pe. Or you can always do the ‘beta’ number and talk down to them.’

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