Chat transcript-Ratna[Maya]

Transcript of LIVE CHAT with Actress, Ratna Pathak Shah at 12 noon on Monday , June 13, 2005 in Mumbai

Ratna Pathak Shah
Actress

"I don't get film offers that often. But I wouldn't be happy playing assorted middle aged female parts in regular Hindi films. But, I'd like to work in the kind of current films being made by the younger and adventurous directors."

Peppy > Hi Ratna, good to see you here! Why is it that you don't give too many interviews? We would like to hear you more often, apart from watch you act on TV.
Ratna Pathak Shah > Well, I personally find giving interviews a rather time
consuming and tedious job and so try and avoid it as far as possible. I guess my work speaks for itself and that's good enough for me.

Rani > Hi. Is comedy your forte? Is this form of acting you are best at? What sort of roles you personally would like to portray?
Ratna Pathak Shah > I enjoy comedy greatly though I find it very difficult to do (it). Personally, it's the only kind of work I am interested in to do on TV. I hate soaps. In the theatre, I have a much variety of role to portray, the scripts are written by literary genius and therefore, I enjoy theatre much more.

Clod > How often do you consult your husband (actor) Naseeruddin Shah on choosing roles? Do you guys discuss films, TV and theatre a lot at home?
Ratna Pathak Shah > Yes, we talk about acting a lot at home -film and TV and theatre. I definitely take his opinion on the work I do and I consider them (his opinion) very seriously.

Desty > Ratna, when is your son going to make his debut in films?
Ratna Pathak Shah > That depends entirely on him. At the moment, he's in college
and needs to concentrate on his studies.

Tina > What do you feel about the current state of Hindi cinema today? Some of the films made have such meaningless scripts..
Ratna Pathak Shah > Well, Hindi cinema has always had meaningless scripts, that's
nothing new in it. But I feel a little hopeful of our quality of our films because the new generation of film makers have come into the picture. Only time will tell if they are able to think beyond the romance/revenge drama/wedding parties/family melodrama
formulas.

Suma > Why aren't you doing films (more often)?
Ratna Pathak Shah > I don't get offered films more often.

Higs > Why don't you do some serials/film with your sister and husband Naseer in it? Any hope of it to happen?
Ratna Pathak Shah > With Supriya (sister), who also does serials, there is more of a chance. But Naseer is too busy to do TV and films. I can only hope that something will happen.

Suma > What is the one thing about Nasser that you found really striking? What 's the secret of your long marriage?
Ratna Pathak Shah > That he is a very focussed person and passionate about his
Work, and he looked very cute in a beard. The reason of staying married for so long is - we are friends. The fact that we work(theatre) together also helps greatly.

Rani > I love you Ratna for such an honest answer! Dil Kush Ho Gaya Aap Ki Baat Sun Ke (I am happy to hear your answer)! Why do you think film offer do not come to you more often?
Ratna Pathak Shah > I wish I knew (sigh sigh)! Thanks.

Suma > Like your work in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai . Why don't you do more comedy serials?
Ratna Pathak Shah > It takes a long time to get a comedy serial right and it takes a good writer to make it work. I have seldom come across a writer like Aatish Kapadia (who writes Sarabhai...). Most of the other scripts are down right unfunny. I am very fortunate that I have had the opportunities to do a few but good comedy serials. If I did many more, may be you wouldn't be interested in talking to me.

Rahul_datta8 > You understand other feelings, but none has been able to understand you till date.. why?
Ratna Pathak Shah > Well, I think I have been well understood by my family and friends, and that's good enough.

Meena > Can you tell me about your theater group? Do you conduct theatre workshops?
How can you help a budding actor through it?
Ratna Pathak Shah > Our theatre group is called "Motley" and we do plays
mainly in English and Hindi, in Mumbai .We are a small group and perform in theatres like Prithvi and the NCPA. Unfortunately, we don't run any theatre workshops. My advice to a budding actor would be - get trained. If you wanted to be a doctor, you would train yourself. Wouldn't you? So, it might be a good idea to go the national school of drama (NSD) in Delhi and prepare yourself, your body, your voice and your skills.

Gigs > Is it true that you are a very moody person by nature?
Ratna Pathak Shah > No, I don't think I am moody. My kids say that I am usually
bad tempered so there are no fluctuations of moods, but I feel that I am perfectly okay. So, may be you need to ask other about me being moody.

Rekha > Way back you did the English film- Heat And Dust ? Why didn't you star more in English films after that? How did you get the role in the film?
Ratna Pathak Shah > I was offered the role by (late) Ismail Merchant. He approached me quite out of the blue. I have done a couple of English films after that. Like Perfect Murder , directed by Zafar Hai and the other was a short film called Mr. Ahmed, directed by Terrence Grace.

Bechu > After acting in an English film, you could have become a full time Hollywood actress. Indians like Art Malik have done that. Didn't it appeal to you? Why?
Ratna Pathak Shah > At the time when I first started out India, actors found it difficult to get parts in English films. There were fewer stories about Indians made in English and there are fewer films being made by Indians in English. So, didn't think it was an avenue that I could explore .

Saumya_golla > Why don't you act in the current Hindi films? Would you like to, if offered?
Ratna Pathak Shah > Certainly (in) the kind of Hindi films that are being made by the younger and more adventurous directors. But I don't think that I would be very happy playing mother and bhabis (sis-in-laws) and other assorted middle aged female parts in regular Hindi films.

Sign Off Message > I enjoyed this chat and I am glad that so many of you found time to come online. Hopefully, we should meet again and in the meanwhile I hope I can keep entertaining you. Good luck and good bye.