Ratna Pathak recalled her unconventional marriage to Naseeruddin Shah and how she was never asked to convert.
One of the most versatile actresses in Hindi cinema, Ratna Pathak hails from a family of stars. Not many people know this, but Ratna is the daughter of veteran actress, Dina Pathak. For decades, Ratna graced our screens with some of the most spectacular roles, which had shaped her career in the Hindi cinema.
The National award-winning actress Ratna Pathak Shah got fame from the 80s TV serial 'Idhar Udhar'. Be it the elite socialite, ‘Maya Sarabhai’ in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, the motorcycle rider ‘Rani’ in Dhak Dhak or the royal ‘Nirmala Devi Rathore’ in Khoobsurat, there is hardly any role that Ratna didn’t ace. Even at the age of 67, she can give any heroine a run for their money.
Do you know, Ratna never wanted to be an actress? Yes, you read that right, she wanted to be a pilot or an air hostess. However, fate had other plans, and she eventually ventured into acting through theatre. It was during Satyadev Dubey’s play, Sambhog Se Sanyas Tak, when Ratna crossed paths with Naseeruddin Shah.
Naseeruddin had already forayed into films, while Ratna was in the early phase of her career, following the footsteps of her mother, Dina Pathak and sister, Supriya Pathak. It was Ratna’s charm and her dedication towards her craft that created a huge impression on Naseer. Soon, they fell in love but couldn’t marry because of Naseer’s impending divorce from his first wife.
Naseer and Ratna dated for seven long years before getting married in 1982. The duo had the most unconventional wedding. Her parents were apprehensive about Naseer. Since Naseer was still struggling to make a mark in Indian cinema, Ratna’s father had inhibitions about their future. But before their marriage, Ratna’s father passed away. Her mother, too, had a rocky relationship with Naseer initially but later became one of his biggest fans.
They belonged to different age groups and religions, but that never imposed a problem in their relationship. Despite being a Hindu, Ratna was never asked to convert to get married to Naseer. In an interview with Hauterrfly, Ratna spoke about her inter-faith marriage with Naseeruddin Shah and revealed how his family never asked her to convert. Speaking about the same, Ratna shared:
“Naseer’s family surprisingly didn’t make a fuss at all. Not once did anybody ever even mention the ‘C’ word, convert. Nobody said anything about me. They just accepted me for what I am. I’m very, very lucky because I’ve heard of people who have trouble settling down. Afterwards, I’ve been friends with all of them, including my mother-in-law, who was a very homebound kind of person but extremely liberal in every situation.”
Since Naseer was separated and not divorced, he could not marry Ratna earlier. So, they decided to fight the world and stay in a live-in relationship. After his divorce, Naseer and Ratna had a humble registered wedding in 1982 at her mother’s home. When Naseer’s first wife passed away, their only daughter, Heeba, came to stay with Ratna and Naseer. Ratna welcomed her with open arms, and to this day, they share a cordial bond.
Despite the struggle, hardships and age gap, Naseerudin Shah and Ratna Pathak stayed together and became each other’s biggest support system.
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