Naseeruddin Shah says he did three shifts a day for money: ‘No worse torture in the world, no amount worth this agony'

Indian Express

19-05-2025

Naseeruddin Shah has never shied away from admitting he did several movies in the 1980s and '90s only for the sake of money. However, he came to realise that it was a futile exercise. Meanwhile, his wife Ratna Pathak Shah is glad she didn't have to go through that, which allowed her to preserve the quality of her craft.
'I've done three shifts a day, and there's no worse torture in the world. There was a time when I was acting in several lovely movies for money. And I realized no amount of money is worth this agony, of jumping from one set to another. Half of the time, you're bloody socializing on set. You get there for the 9 am shift, then you spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping,' said Naseeruddin.
In a podcast on the YouTube channel of Aadyam Theatre, Ratna Pathak Shah said, 'I've done very little work that is of a high quality. I've done most of my work on television, so that's not the kind of quality we're talking about when we talk about great art. But I have realized if I don't give it my all and I don't use the skills I'm using while I'm doing theatre, then this doesn't sound or look right.'
She added there's no point of doing subpar work if you're doing such little work. 'I do so little work that I can't get myself to cheat even in that. I understand if I'm doing four shifts a day, then I'd just spit in one and move ahead. But if a play or a role comes to me after two years, then at least I should work hard in that,' added Ratna.
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In the recent FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, Ratna Pathak Shah admitted she was resentful of her husband's position, but has come to terms with it now. 'I love the fact that he is totally focused on his work, and he is the most generous person to work with as an actor, as a director, in every way. As a director, he helps every single person arrive at the best of what they are capable of,' she said.
'I love that about him, but I also hate that about him. I love acting, but I am not committed to it the way he is. I do sometimes feel resentful in taking second place to work, but finally I have made my peace with that,' Ratna added.
Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah tied the knot in 1982 after dating for several years. They continue to work together on the stage.