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Ratna Pathak says Bollywood had no ‘real writers’ in ’80s, ’90s: ‘Our best-known films are frame-by-frame copies’

Dhak Dhak star Ratna Pathak Shah recently opened up about the scarcity of Bollywood films with an all-female lead cast, and attributed this to a dearth of imagination among writers. She also said that there were no "real writers" in Bollywood during the 1980s and ’90s.

By: Entertainment Desk
Kochi | Updated: October 11, 2023 12:50 PM IST

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A still from Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi-starrer Dhak Dhak.

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Ratna Pathak Shah’s influence goes beyond the world of cinema; she has also made a lasting impact in the fields of theatre and television. Currently, this actor is gearing up for the release of Tarun Dudeja’s road film Dhak Dhak, in which she will be seen alongside Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi.

Meanwhile, Ratna recently opened up about the scarcity of Bollywood films with an all-female lead cast, and attributed this to a dearth of imagination among writers. She further stated that there were no “real writers” in Bollywood during the 1980s and ’90s. “We had no real writers for a very long time. At least in the ’80s and ’90s, I just saw plain copies of Hollywood movies, being made over and over again, and passed off as original,” Ratna said during a group chat with Film Companion.

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She continued, “Some of our ‘best-known films’ are literally frame-by-frame copies. We unfortunately spent a lot of time being happy to make the same kind of things over and over again.”

Watch Dhak Dhak trailer here:

Ratna said that the shift in creativity began recently with the OTT boom, as a more diverse global array of films and shows became accessible, particularly to younger audiences.

Opening up about embarking on a daring motorcycle adventure through the challenging terrain of Leh, Ratna recently told Bollywood Hungama, “I have driven bikes in my dreams many times. I used to look at bike riders and think that someday I will too ride a bike but I didn’t know that at the age of 65, I will have to ride a bike.”

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Jointly produced by Taapsee Pannu, Ajit Andhare, Kevin Vaz and Pranjal Khandhdiya, Dhak Dhak will hit the screens on October 13. Speaking about the film, Taapsee earlier said, “We have attempted to give audiences a visual experience that they have rarely seen on screen. Dhak Dhak narrates the story of four women who realise that freedom has to be owned and never given. Viacom18 Studios has been a crucial part of my journey in the film industry from Chashme Baddoor, Shabaash Mithu and now to Dhak Dhak. I am sure that this ride will be an enriching one.”

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