One of the greats of Indian cinema and theatre Naseeruddin Shah’s wife Ratna Pathak Shah is an equally gifted but a highly under-rated actor. In town with their group Motley Theatre for the 2014 Napa International Theatre Festival, Ratna gave pitch-perfect performances enacting several characters in Ismat Apa Ke Naam. She sat down with Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui to discuss all things related to acting.

What were the influences from your parents? Both my parents and my mother’s sisters were associated with theatre. While Ma and my aunts would be acting on stage we would be playing backstage. My father was a businessman and designed clothes for the actors. It quickly made me aware that theatre needs discipline, a lot of hard work and pay me less money.

What was your first job? My first job was a dresser i.e. doing costume changes for the heroine in the Gujarati play Jaswandi back in 1973-74 and I think I got paid about 30 rupees.

Which of your mother Dina Pathak’s films and play you like the most? Ma had a small role as kalimata in a Gujarati play Hayavadana written by Girish Karnad and directed by Satyadev Dubey. In films I liked her most in Bhavni Bhavai and Golmaal.

Which of your sister Supriya Pathak Kapur’s film and TV acts you like the most? She was lovely in Vijeta and terrific in Bazaar. There was a TV sitcom we did together Idhar Udhar in 1983-1984 in which I thought she was quite good.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? That to be a good actor is extremely hard work involving every part of your being. Acting does not get enough seriousness, time and respect that it deserves.

What books have had the greatest impact on you? Works by George Bernard Shaw.

What performances would you advise an aspiring actor to watch? They should watch life relentlessly and how people behave with each other under different circumstances.

What next? I directed a play last year called A Walk in the Woods and now I am looking for something else to direct.