New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actress Ratna Pathak Shah in a recent interview with Pinkvilla, said that India ‘is becoming extremely conservative’, ‘superstitious’ and might become ‘like Saudi Arabia’.

She said that nothing has changed for women, or maybe very little has changed in very crucial areas.

Ratna Pathak further said that our society is becoming extremely conservative.

“We’re becoming superstitious, we’re being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one’s life,” she said.

Sharing her experience, she said, “Someone asked me for the first time last year if I’m keeping ‘karwa chauth ka vrat (observing karwa chauth)’. I replied, ‘Am I mad?'”

‘Modern women doing Karwa Chauth appalling’

Talking about modern women in our society, she said that “Isn’t it appalling that modern educated women do Karwa Chauth, praying for the lives of husbands so that they can have some validity in life?

She further said, “A widow in the Indian context is a horrible situation, isn’t it? So anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century, we are talking like this? Educated women are doing this.”

What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia?

‘Lipstick Under My Burqa’ actress further stated, “Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become because it’s very very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labor within the home. If you have to pay for that labor, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation.”

On the work front, she was last seen in Yash Raj Film’s ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’ alongside Ranveer Singh, Boman Irani, and Shalini Pandey.

#KarwaChauth trends on Twitter after Ratna Pathak Shah says ‘Modern women doing Karwa Chauth appalling’

Following her statement, people started trolling her for questioning the importance of Karwa Chauth. Users also expressed their anger.

Sheetal Chopra @SheetalPronamo wrote, "Ratna Pathak Shah finds Karwa chauth extremely conservative & compares India with Saudi Arabia But the hypocrite was completely silent on * Hij@@b issue" What else can we expect from a typical elite Bollywood Secularist."

Shruti @kadak_chai_ reacted, "#RatnaPathakShah #KarvaChauth Naseeruddin shah's wife,Ratna Pathak:Modern women doing Karva Chauth is appalling.India turning into Saudi But School going girls demanding Hijab M men marrying dozens of women Sar Tan Se Juda zombies ki/lling in the name of religion is Progressive."

Mohan Sinha @Mohansinha asked, "Will Ratna Pathak Shah also enlighten us with her views on many Muslim males who insist on their women, even infants, wearing a hijab/ burqa in India and assault them if they don’t? Is that not Saudi Arabian for her? Or is that her idea of just being liberal?"

Vivek @Vksinh_ pointed out, "Why did Ratna pathak add 'SHAH' in her name after marriage, while mulla Nasiruddin didn't add 'PATHAK' in his name? Why did none of the sons -Imaad & Vivaan Shah of mulla Nasiruddin & brahmin Ratna pathak shah, don't carry 'Pathak' but 'Shah' as their surname? Too patriarchal!"

One handle @rishu_1809 compares, "#RatnaPathakShah #KarvaChauth Ratna Pathak Shah thinks 'India Turning Into Saudi' as Women still follow Karva Chauth. Woke Libbies while giving Gyaan to Modern Women on Karva Chauth Hijab, Burqa"

Ankit Gupta @AnkitGu01754772 wrote, "Today I came across with One more woke woman "Ratna Pathak Shah" wife of Nasiruddin shah She says why modern educated women are keeping karuwa chauth fast !! Lemme tell u keeping fast is indian rituals not mandatory it also improves health of woman!! Man too keep fast!!"

Sanghi_doctorni @crocusativus12 observed, "Modern women falling prey to #LoveJihad is appalling , poor Ratna Pathak Shah."