What are artistes gaining by returning awards, asks Supriya Pathak

Veteran theatre, film and television actress Supriya Pathak on Wednesday questioned what the artistes are gaining by their 'award wapsi'.

"One person returned his award, now everybody is returning their awards. Are we gaining anything from that? Have you been able to make a point that something has changed? Whom are we pressurising by this? Nobody is paying heed. The government is not even addressing the matter," the "Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela" actress said here.

She spoke in reference to the decision of a string of writers, historians, filmmakers and others to return their national awards and honours to protest an atmosphere of "intolerance" in the country.

Pointing out a probable reason why the problem has not been addressed yet, she said the government is currently interested in the Bihar election.

"When the issue there finishes, then another issue will spring up."

Talking of the 139-day strike by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India, she said: "There was a huge uproar with FTII strike, the students went on strike for so long, the students were not studying, the government lost so much money, there was so much bitterness... What happened in the end? Eventually we are back to square one."

Supriya, who was in the capital to promote Life OK's forthcoming TV show "Jane Kya hoga Rama Re!", also said that "when a group of people want to work together, there are a lot of people who want to break that group".