If Pavan Malhotra’s performance was the backbone of Tabbar, Supriya Pathak stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, proving that there is no substitute for experience. As Sargun, the family matriarch who is hit the hardest by the unfortunate turn of events, Pathak walked the fine line between strength and vulnerability. “Playing it as real as possible was tough. On the face of it, Sargun was ordinary, yet she was so complicated in her mind. It wouldn’t have worked if I had relied on some reference point to play Sargun. I enjoyed bringing forth the different layers she had in her,” she says.

Her moving portrayal has won her a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor (Female): Series category at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards. Tell her that her act was widely praised, and Pathak says, “I’m not on social media. I heard from people that they liked me in the show. I requested my friends to forward all the positive responses to me. That in itself is a reward.”

At 61, the senior actor is enjoying the current phase of her career that offers her varied roles — from the spirited mother in Rashmi Rocket (2021) to the despondent widow in Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2021). “This is a superb time for actors my age. I feel happy that now, I have the scope to create something different, as filmmakers are coming up with terrific stories. They are no longer stereotyping us or putting us in a box.”

Cast your vote for the Hitlist OTT Awards

Supriya Pathak has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor (Female): Series category for Tabbar. 

The other nominees are:

- Amruta Subhash (Bombay Begums)

- Ashlesha Thakur (The Family Man S02)

- Geetanjali Kulkarni (Gullak S02)

- Ira Dubey (Potluck)

- Kani Kusruti (OK Computer)

- Konkona Sen Sharma (Mumbai Diaries 26/11)

- Shabana Azmi (The Empire)

Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistawards to cast your vote.

You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c as on the website) to 57575.

Voting lines close on March 18.