Veteran actress Ratna Pathak Shah recently opened up about gender inequality during a discussion at the FICCI FLO event in Hyderabad. Reflecting on her own life, she shared a poignant memory of her paternal grandmother, who cried when her sister, actress Supriya Pathak, was born, leaving Ratna feeling quite upset.

Ratna Pathak Shah remembers her grandmother's reaction to Supriya Pathak's arrival

She also talked about her experience raising two sons, which she found both amusing and unexpected—something she wasn't fully ready for. Ratna expressed her frustration over the privileges typically granted to boys. She recalled, "I can still hear my grandmother wailing when my sister was born. ‘Haye haye doosri beti aagayi (Oh no, another girl).’ It made me feel awful. I just couldn't grasp why the arrival of a girl would bring such sadness."

Ratna Pathak Shah's father's response

Ratna expressed that her grandmother's response was quite hurtful, but she also remembered her father's encouraging reaction, which gave her some hope. She shared, “He took a strong stand against it. In Punjabi culture, there’s a tradition of giving out specific sweets to celebrate the birth of a boy and different ones for a girl. Despite having a girl in the family, he chose to hand out the sweets meant for a boy, which felt like a powerful statement of acceptance.”

She reflected on her surprise at how unwelcome a girl’s presence seemed, noting that the problem often starts within the family. Ratna highlighted that even in well-educated, affluent families, boys and girls are treated quite differently. She stressed that there’s a mix of both subtle and blatant privilege at play, and until this is confronted, achieving true equality will remain an elusive goal.

Here's some info on Ratna Pathak Shah and Supriya Pathak

Supriya and Ratna have both made significant contributions to the film industry with their impressive performances across a variety of films. Supriya is particularly recognized for her roles in movies such as Kalyug, Sarkar, Delhi 6, Khichdi: The Movie, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, and Satyaprem Ki Katha, to name a few. Meanwhile, Ratna is celebrated for her character in the popular TV series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, as well as her work in films like Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, Golmaal 3, Kapoor & Sons, and Khoobsurat, among others.

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