Happy birthday Ratna Pathak Shah: From Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai to Lipstick Under My Burkha, here are her 5 best works

She may not have received as many awards as her contemporaries, say a Shabana Azmi, in parallel cinema but Ratna Pathak Shah, who celebrates her 62nd birthday on Monday, has her own interesting filmography and deserves all the credit for her work. While the popular sitcom Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai is arguably her most famous appearance, she has also appeared in some very interesting projects like the recent Lipstick Under My Burkha.

Born in 1957 in Mumbai, Ratna is the daughter of actor Dina Pathak and the younger sister of Supriya Pathak. She married Naseeruddin Shah in 1982. They have two sons, Imaad and Vivaan.

Here is a look at some of the best works starring Ratna:

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Mirch Masala

This Ketan Mehta directorial featured Ratna as a woman who fights against patriarchy and harassment. The 1987 film had women of a village establish a sisterhood of solidarity against a lascivious subedaar and subjugation at the hands of men.

Tara

One of the most progressive TV shows in the 90s India, Tara focussed on the lives of the titular character and her three friends with Ratna playing one of them.

Lipstick Under My Burkha

The most recent film in Ratna’s kitty, Alankrita Srivastava’s directorial showcased Ratna as a middle-aged woman who not only has sexual desire but finds a way to fulfil them too. The film also starred Ahana Kumra, Vikrant Massey and Sushant Singh, among others.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

While she has played a mother’s role in several films, this one stands out because of her character. In a comic twist, her dead husband (played by real-life husband Naseeruddin) talks to her via a portrait. Their chats were perhaps the best part of the film.

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai

The hit 90s TV series cast Ratna as Maya Sarabhai, an upper middle-class woman who happily hides her bias behind a veil of class and style. With her spot-on comic timing, Ratna added layers to her portrayal.

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First Published: Mar 18, 2019 17:50 IST