When I look at older female actors like Meryl Streep and Michelle Yeoh and see how they are some of the most sought-after actors in their industry, are heavily respected and are given roles that suit their experience and status, I often wonder why older female actors in the Hindi film industry are treated the same way. Here, while some have given up the prospect of having a stable acting career, others are surviving on small roles on the sidelines.
Waheeda Rehman was recently bestowed with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. However, Ratna Pathak Shah is of the opinion that this recognition is insufficient for an immensely talented and great actor like Rehman. What Shah wants instead is for the film industry to write good roles for Waheeda Rehman.
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“When I see a Meryl Streep (74) and a Helen Mirren (78), I feel if they can do it, so can I. And I’m sorry that a Waheeda Rehman in our country doesn’t get the parts that she deserves. What a fabulous woman, and what a fabulous actress she is! All they want to do is give her a little award and stick her in one corner. Really? Give her a good role for Christ’s sake. Keep the award,” Indian Express quoted her saying.
This isn’t the first time Ratna Pathak Shah has advocated for writing good roles for women. In an earlier interview, while talking about the kind of roles that are written for female actors, she said, “They can barely write a good part for Deepika Padukone, so how are they going to write a good part for me?”
She has a point though. Maybe instead of giving accolades, senior female actors should be offered striking roles, don’t you think?