In a chat with us, veteran actress Ratna Pathak Shah speaks to us about the evolving landscape of Indian theatre and working with husband Naseeruddin Shah. Excerpts from a conversation:

Since 1974, I have been hearing how theatre would not exist in the future. Then we had television shows which took over and now OTT. Every time there was something new, people felt theatre would die, but it didn’t! Even after the pandemic, drama zinda hai! Of course, things have changed and actors and writers have adapted to newer times, but there are things that I don’t like, particularly the unnecessary use of projections used in live theatres now. The desire to make plays that are thinly disguised films is limiting in many ways. Making a living out of theatre is tough, but theatre satisfies a creative need.

My first play with Naseer was Sambhog Se Sanyas Tak. We were a group of rather inexperienced theatres actors, and he had the most experience among us all. That’s how I met Naseer. It was not a good play, but it was a learning experience participating in workshops and acting in plays. Then, in the early 1980s, Naseer started directing plays, and he directed me in a few.

I like the fact that he communicates very well when he is directing. He is generous with his knowledge and knows exactly how to bring out the best in an actor. As a co-actor, he is very confident and therefore, never keen to grab attention, that makes working with him a pleasure. He’s extremely reliable — if he says he’ll catch you at a particular moment in a scene, trust me, he will. He is very strict with pronunciations. But mostly, I feel he is an easy director to work with because he knows what he wants and helps you if you are stuck in a scene. He can be short-tempered when a show is coming up. There are times when I don’t agree with his ideas but have never faced issues trying to convince him. So, we enjoy an interesting collaborative relationship when we work together.

Definitely not the overly dramatic ones. I want roles that reflect the world we live in today — something layered, something real. I like stories that need sensitivity and depth. Roles should teach me something, help me grow, and offer a fresh perspective on life to me and also the audience.