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Ratna Pathak Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth18 March 1957

Age68 Years (as of 2025)

BirthplaceMumbai, Maharashtra, India

ProfessionActress

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNaseeruddin Shah

FamilyMother - Dina Pathak; Sister - Supriya Pathak; Children - Imaad Shah, Vivaan Shah; Step-daughter - Heeba Shah

Ratna Pathak Biography

Veteran Indian actress Ratna Pathak is best known for her comic work as Maya Sarabhai and for a long career across theatre, film and television. Trained at

Early life and background

Ratna Pathak was born on 18 March 1957 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Raised in a family with a strong connection to the performing arts, she attended J. B. Vachha High School in Dadar and later trained at the National School of Drama in Delhi. Her mother was the actress Dina Pathak, and Ratna grew up in an environment that exposed her to theatre and film from an early age.

Career

Pathak made her film debut in 1983 with Mandi and moved into television with the sitcom Idhar Udhar in 1985, which aired on DD National. She developed a reputation for thoughtful role choices and has said she dislikes playing stereotypes, weighing projects carefully before accepting them.

She earned widespread recognition for her portrayal of Maya Sarabhai in the popular sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, a role that brought her an Indian Television Academy award for Best Actress in Comedy. Pathak’s work spans stage, television and cinema, and she has been involved in industry activities beyond acting, including participating on a selection committee for national civilian honours in 2012.

In 2023 she appeared as Manpreet Kaur Sethi in the ensemble film Dhak Dhak. The production included scenes of the principal cast riding motorcycles; Pathak initially expressed reservations about riding for safety reasons but ultimately trained for and performed the scenes, describing the experience as personally rewarding.

Public profile

Pathak’s screen presence and stage background have made her a recognizable figure in Indian entertainment. She is known for a measured approach to her career choices and for performances that balance humour and nuance. Her family connections in the industry include her younger sister, actress Supriya Pathak.

Personal life

Ratna Pathak is married to actor-director Naseeruddin Shah. She is a mother to children including Imaad Shah and Vivaan Shah, and is a stepmother to Heeba Shah. She lists reading among her hobbies and has named favourites in cinema and literature—one of her preferred films is Aankho Dekhi (2013), and she has cited writers such as Ismat Chughtai and Hari Shankar Parsai.

Latest updates

In 2023 Pathak’s visible return in Dhak Dhak highlighted her continuing activity in feature films. The film’s promotional conversations noted her initial hesitance about performing certain physical sequences at her age and the effort she put into preparing for them.

Other notes

Physical details listed for Pathak include a height of approximately 163 cm (5'4") and a weight around 55 kg (121 lbs). She has dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. Her birth sign is Pisces and she holds Indian nationality. Additional personal details recorded in public profiles include her hometown of Mumbai and an interest in London as a favourite destination.

Ratna Pathak remains an active presence across stage, television and film, selected for notable projects and recognized for a distinctive comic and dramatic range.
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Recent Work

Dhak Dhak

Appeared as Manpreet Kaur Sethi; participated in motorcycle sequences after training, 2023.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Film debut in Mandi (1983)
  2. Television debut in Idhar Udhar (1985)
  3. Awarded ITA Best Actress - Comedy for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
  4. Served on the Padma selection committee in 2012
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ratna Pathak born?

18 March 1957

What is Ratna Pathak known for?

Actress

What is Ratna Pathak’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ratna Pathak married to?

Naseeruddin Shah