I don't get the kind of work for which I'd like to leave my home to the care of domestic help: Supriya Pathak

Think Supriya Pathak. Think monstrous talent and pedigree. Daughter to the female stalwart Dina Pathak, Supriya’s spouse is the incredibly gifted Pankaj Kapoor. Supriya’s sister is the enormously talented Ratna Shah and brother-in-law is the indomitable Naseeruddin Shah. That’s quite a family tree. “I never thought of it that way,” laughs Supriya. Her rare screen appearance in a very powerful role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela has fetched her rave reviews. “I guess we’ve all been doing what we believed in," says the soft-spoken Supriya. Now Supriya and Pankaj’s two children are also set for a film career. Says the proud mother, “My daughter Sanaah is 23. She has studied acting at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. She is gearing up for a career in acting. My son Ruhaan is 20. He is a trained chef. But he’s going abroad to learn acting and direction.” Supriya who started her career with a supporting role in Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug in 1981 has largely been cast in sweet angelic roles. For the first time in Bhansali’s Ram Leela she plays a dark sinister character. Says Supriya, “When he offered me the role, the first thing I asked Sanjayji was how he thought of me in such a character. But he told me he had always seen something very evil in my eyes. I didn’t argue that.” Laughing pleasurably Supriya says, “I did Ram Leela because of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I had my apprehensions about carrying off the role. But when Sanjayji narrated the script to me I was completely swept away. Though it is something far removed from what I’m generally seen doing it is a challenge I gladly took up to go beyond my comfort zone.” Supriya says she had great fun working in Ram Leela. “It didn’t feel like work at all. We were all in the mood for celebration. Otherwise as you can see I don’t accept too much work. Rather, I don’t get the kind of work for which I’d like to leave my home to the care of domestic help. Though the children are now grown up I still like to be around for them and my husband. Unless there is a proper and valid incentive to go out and work.” Supriya would also be seen in Danis Tonovic’s White Lies. Supriya plays Vidya Balan’s mother in Bobby Jasoos. Sighs Supriya, “The over-selectiveness that you have noticed in my career is not something I’ve wished for. It just happened. I didn’t feel the need to work that much. Sometimes you do something and it doesn’t come out the way you think it would. That happened with a television serial that I did recently called Chhanchhan (Sony TV). But no complaints. God has been very kind.”