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 softspoken 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 role. 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 my career. 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 Chan-Chan.But no complaints. God has been very kind.`