New Delhi: As compared to her mother's generation, veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah said she is glad that women of her age are being offered diverse characters to play on screen.
The situation in the Hindi film industry has changed for the better for female artistes, said the actor, who is the daughter of late cinema icon Dina Pathak and designer Baldev Pathak.
"Today, I'm 65. But when my mother was 65, she used to cry because the roles she was offered were all the same. In comparison, I'm getting more diverse roles. Many women like me are getting such opportunities," Shah said.
The actor was speaking during a session on women's representation in Indian cinema at 'Rajendra Yadav Smriti Samaroh' in New Delhi at Bikaner House on October 30.
"The troubles that my mother's generation had faced, I encountered a lot less. It should be less for my daughter's generation and the one after hers. This is what we hope for in society. Art is a part of this whole movement. But it cannot be the only way to address this issue. Society has to change its thinking and that is why education is important," Shah said.
The versatile actor, known for her performances in movies such as 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na', 'Kapoor and Sons' and 'Lipstick Under My Burkha', credited the change to the way stories are being written in cinema.
"Women have started telling their stories and they will not be stopped unless they are all caged. We are going to tell our stories. I think this is possible because we have purchasing power today. We can choose what films to watch, whether on screen or by buying a subscription to OTT platforms," she added.
The atmosphere on a film's set has also improved for the better, especially for female artistes, Shah pointed out.
"The change is visible on the film's set as well. Earlier, you would only find women in the hairdressing department, as junior artistes or sometimes as stuntwomen. Today, you will find women in every department and because of this, there is a much more democratic and less sexually charged mood on the set. That is a big difference. I can't say how grateful I'm for this because it was very visible once upon a time."
Shah believes that films of today have 'discovered a new woman', one that is free and not bothered by the restrictions of society. At the same time, cinema should also focus on stories that show the changing mindset of men towards women.