Mumbai: Ratna Pathak Shah is one of Indian cinema’s most respected and powerful performers. With a career spanning over four decades, she has delivered memorable performances in films like Mandi, Mirch Masala, Paheli, Yun Hota To Kya Hota, Golmaal 3, Kapoor & Sons, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Khoobsurat, Thappad, Dhak Dhak, and many more. The veteran actress with a strong screen presence and a daring personality, the veteran actress recently talked to Pinkvilla in an exclusive and insightful interview about her life, her career, and her experiences in the film industry.
During the interaction, Ratna Pathak Shah shared her honest views about working with her Kapoor & Sons co-star Alia Bhatt and revealed what made her different from other actresses of her generation. The actress remembered that she could see Alia on set and find her devoted and focused. Ratna says that Alia was known to be always watching the monitor when other actors were performing and she was keenly observing their work rather than not being distracted or detached.
“She Was Always Observing and Learning,” Says Ratna Pathak
Ratna, when discussing her experience of being on set, stated that Alia was the most focused. She observed the extent to which Alia was engaged in the filmmaking process, even when she was off camera. The senior actress felt that this habit of observing others and learning from them reflected Alia’s seriousness towards her craft.
Ratna also praised Alia for not trying to put on a fake image or behave overly cute on the sets. She pointed out that many young actresses feel the pressure to constantly entertain people around them, believing it might help their image. Nevertheless, Ratna believed that this usually proved to be distracting and even influenced their performances. Alia on the contrary was simple, quiet and remained focused on her work which, as Ratna claimed, was what made her special.
“Extremely Gifted and Focused”
The veteran actress further shared that despite being on the same film, she and Alia did not get much chance to interact, as they did not have any scenes together. They barely exchanged a few words, but even in that limited interaction, Ratna could sense Alia’s talent and dedication.
She explained that Alia was highly talented and concentrated and she really enjoyed her attitude to acting. The words of Ratna underline the level of respect that she gives Alia, particularly, taking into consideration the amount of experience and her keen knowledge of performance and cinema.
Alia Bhatt who keeps drawing crowds with her diverse roles is now preparing to star in her new film Love And War. The presence of an experienced actor such as Ratna Pathak Shah in praise of Alia makes her one of the most committed and talented actresses of her era even more.
With her honesty, humility, and passion for acting, Alia Bhatt clearly left a lasting impression on Ratna Pathak Shah, making their brief professional association a memorable one.
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