Regional cinema is offering more interesting stories than Bollywood: Supriya Pathak

Supriya Pathak, who impressed audiences with her performance in the recent Gujarati film Auntypreneur, says that “it is a great time for Gujarati and other regional films.” The veteran actress, who has done Gujarati films like Kehvatlal Parivar (2022) and Carry On Kesar (2017), was in Ahmedabad recently. She shares, “Be it Gujarati cinema or other regional films, I feel they are offering more interesting stories as compared to Hindi cinema. In Gujarati films, young directors are willing to explore new genres and I like their way of working, as they are very flexible and open to experimentation. They know their craft well.”

‘I get attracted to stories that have a fun element’

In Auntypreneur, Pathak played a 65-year-old woman (Jasuben) who teams up with other homemakers to claim their financial independence and save their housing society from demolition. She shares, “The film was offered to me long back and while I found the story interesting, the project got delayed due to COVID. Today, there is so much tragedy all around us. I get attracted to stories that have a fun element. This film had a beautiful message that was narrated in a fun way.”

She adds, “It was great to work with Abhishek Jain (director and producer) and Pratik Rajen Kothari (director of Auntypreneur). Pratik is very talented, sincere, and focused. I have also known Abhishek since the days of Bey Yaar (2014) and we always wanted to work together. I feel he has played a big role in the revival of Gujarati cinema and I loved all his films. It’s always great to collaborate with intelligent people who want to do good work. However, it’s still a bit of a battle to get audiences to theatres to watch Gujarati films. The industry needs more support from the audience.”

‘Wrong to say audience’s viewing patterns have changed only due to OTT’

Pathak, who has done OTT projects like Tabbar, Home Shanti and Cartel, says, “It’s wrong to say audience’s viewing patterns have changed only due to OTT.” She feels, “It’s got more to do with very little concentration level, as people are constantly on Instagram and checking their smartphones. If you are scrolling mindlessly all the time, it becomes difficult to engage with a story.”

Many viewers complain about an overdose of thrillers on OTT platforms. Asked about it, she says, “I feel all the mediums (OTT, TV and theatres) can complement each other. If the content is similar on all platforms, then what’s the point? Every medium should have its unique content. I want to see more interesting stories on OTT.”

‘It’s important to let your kids make their own decisions’

Talking about her actress-daughter Sanah Kapur, Pathak says, “Today, kids are well-informed and capable individuals. As parents, it’s important to let your kids make their own decisions. Even if they falter initially, they will learn from it. I am always there for Sanah, but I don’t think there is any need to constantly guide her.”

She adds, “We share a great bond. In recent times, she has tried to convince me to join Instagram, but I have said no. For me, it’s (joining Instagram) too much pressure (laughs)!”

‘I love the vibe of Ahmedabad’

While shooting for Kehvatlal Parivar, I stayed in Ahmedabad for a long duration. I love the vibe of the city. It’s really unique because while it has the buzz of a big city, Ahmedabad has still retained a unique charm that you usually find in small towns. The city has a nice pace to it, and I love the food here.




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