Ratna Pathak Shah
Ratna Pathak Shah is a respected Indian actress whose career spans theatre, television and films. She is widely admired for bringing intelligence, humour and emotional depth to a wide variety of characters. Born in Mumbai, she grew up…
Biography
Ratna Pathak Shah is a respected Indian actress whose career spans theatre, television and films. She is widely admired for bringing intelligence, humour and emotional depth to a wide variety of characters. Born in Mumbai, she grew up in a family closely connected with the performing arts and later trained at the National School of Drama in New Delhi.
She began her film career with Shyam Benegal’s Mandi in 1983 and went on to build a successful career across different forms of entertainment. Ratna became especially popular with television audiences for her memorable portrayal of the stylish and sharp-tongued Maya Sarabhai in the acclaimed comedy series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.
Alongside television and theatre, she has appeared in numerous notable films, including Mirch Masala, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na, Golmaal 3, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Khoobsurat, Kapoor & Sons, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Thappad and Dhak Dhak. Her work has earned appreciation for both comic timing and serious dramatic performances.
Ratna Pathak Shah is married to actor Naseeruddin Shah, and together they have two sons, Imaad Shah and Vivaan Shah. She remains an important and influential figure in Indian performing arts, with decades of acclaimed work across stage and screen.
Notable works
Awards & honours
- Indian Television Academy AwardBest Actress in a Comic Role — 2005 — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai — Winner
- London Asian Film FestivalFestival Award: Stand Out Performance — 2017 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Winner
- Indian Film InstituteBest Actor (Female) — 2018 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Winner
- News18 REEL Movie AwardBest Actress — 2018 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Winner
- Bollywood Film Journalist AwardsBest Supporting Actress — 2018 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Winner
- FOI Online AwardBest Performance by an Ensemble Cast — 2020 — Thappad — Winner
- Times of India Film AwardsActing Excellence in a Comedy Role in Series — 2024 — Happy Family Conditions Apply — Winner
- Ayodhya Film FestivalBest Actress, National Category — 2024 — Shaam hi toh hai (A Night, After All) — Winner
- International Kolkata Short Film FestivalBest Actress — 2025 — Shaam hi toh hai (A Night, After All) — Winner
- Filmfare AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2024 — Dhak Dhak — Nominee
- Zee Cine AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2024 — Dhak Dhak — Nominee
- International Iconic AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2024 — Dhak Dhak — Nominee
- Filmfare OTT AwardBest Actress: Comedy — 2023 — Happy Family: Conditions Apply — Nominee
- Indian Television Academy AwardBest Actress: Comedy (OTT) — 2023 — Happy Family: Conditions Apply — Nominee
- Hitlist OTT AwardBest Supporting Actor (Female) — 2022 — Hum Do Hamare Do — Nominee
- Filmfare OTT AwardBest Actress: Web Original Film — 2021 — Unpaused — Nominee
- FOI Online AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2018 — Love Per Square Foot — Nominee
- FOI Online AwardBest Performance by an Ensemble Cast — 2018 — Love Per Square Foot — Nominee
- Filmfare AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2018 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Nominee
- Zee Cine AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2018 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Nominee
- Screen AwardBest Actress (Critics) — 2018 — Anaarkali of Aarah — Nominee
- Indian Film Festival of MelbourneBest Actress — 2017 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Nominee
- FOI Online AwardBest Actress in a Leading Role — 2017 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Nominee
- FOI Online AwardBest Performance by an Ensemble Cast — 2017 — Lipstick Under My Burkha — Nominee
- Filmfare AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- IIFA AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- Zee Cine AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- Screen AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- Stardust AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- News18 REEL Movie AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- Bollywood Film Journalist AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2017 — Kapoor & Sons — Nominee
- Stardust AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2014 — Khoobsurat — Nominee
- Arab Indo Bollywood AwardBest Performance in a Comic Role (Female) — 2015 — Khoobsurat — Nominee
- Filmfare AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2011 — Golmaal 3 — Nominee
- IIFA AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2011 — Golmaal 3 — Nominee
- Zee Cine AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2011 — Golmaal 3 — Nominee
- Apsara Film Producers Guild AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2011 — Golmaal 3 — Nominee
- Screen AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2011 — Golmaal 3 — Nominee
- Filmfare AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2009 — Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na — Nominee
- Screen AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2009 — Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na — Nominee
- Annual Central European Bollywood AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2009 — Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na — Nominee
- Screen AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role — 2007 — Mixed Doubles — Nominee
- Stardust AwardBest Supporting Actress — 2007 — Mixed Doubles — Nominee
- Indian Telly AwardBest Actress in a Comic Role — 2006 — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai — Nominee
- Apsara AwardBest Actress (TV) — 2006 — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai — Nominee
- Indian Telly AwardBest Actress in a Comic Role — 2005 — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai — Nominee
- Indian Television Academy AwardBest Actress – Web Series — 2017 — Sarabhai vs Sarabhai — Nominee
Family
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