Shefali Shah Feels The Competition In Bollywood For 'Outsiders' Was Fierce 25 Years Ago As Well
You don't see her all the time but when you do, you ensure to stop by and look. Bollywood actress Shefali Shah is not just limited to Bollywood anymore. Touching every visual platform, the actress is every medium that connects with the audience.
You don't see her all the time but when you do, you ensure to stop by and look. Bollywood actress Shefali Shah is not just limited to Bollywood anymore. Touching every visual platform, the actress is every medium that connects with the audience.
She kickstarted her journey with Rangeela, went onto feature in Satya, got critical acclaim for Monsoon and stunned us with Delhi Crime among many other pathbreaking roles.
Instagram/Shefali Shah
It has been almost 3 decades for Shefali Shah and she still manages to get newness in her characters and persona. We spoke to Shefali Shah where she reveals how much she is enjoying writing poetry and blogging during the lockdown and may take it profesionally too. She even spoke about changes in Bollywood over the years.
We can't deny that Shefali Shah's films have most been classics
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Shefali admits it's a conscious effort to be seen so little but her reason is valid. "I would love to do a lot of work. I am the happiest when I am working but I love my work way too much to just do a job. So if a script or a film does not excite me, I won't do it. Earlier in my career, it used to bother me that I am not getting ample projects but I also realised if the kind of work I want to do is not good, then it's not worth doing, just for the heck of it. All my films have been cult or classics hence I want to be sure of what I pick up."
Shefali Shah's resume boasts of quality over quantity films
Instagram/Shefali Shah
Speaking with complete transparency, Shefali says, "My resume doesn't boast of a lot of films but the films that I do have are very special. So even now, its not a lot of stuff I am doing." However, she does feel with OTT coming and featuring in Delhi Crime did open doors for her. "Its got a lot to do with Delhi crime on OTT. Its opened a completely new horizon. Kids who haven't probably seen Satya or Monsoon Wedding, are going back, watching them and calling it progressive and classics."
From a traditional mom to a stylish one in Dil Dhadakne Do was a choice of the director
Remember when she played a Marathi mom in Satya or was the traditional bhabhi in Mohabbatein. Well, clearly she's nothing like that anymore. Recalling the same, Shefali said, "When Mira Nair had called me for Monsoon Wedding, the first thing she asked was I don't even know if you can speak in English because in Satya, I spoke in Marathi. In a way, that's a compliment because I can become a character. Over the years, people know who I am, so choosing me for Dil Dhadakne Do was completely Zoya's choice."
OTT is not determined by stars
Shefali is thankful we have OTT platforms now. "The beauty of OTT is that it's not about how much money it's going to make on a Friday or how much it's going to sell on the day of the release of the film. Online is for posterity and a regular Bollywood film has a shelf life of Friday and Saturday. OTT is about characters and not confined to box office hero, heroine or villian. Every character in OTT is important." Well, we couldn't agree more.
Going to theatre is an old tradition that may or may not break
Will Pandemic affect the theatres? Shefali thinks not already. "Films and going to theatre has been happening for decades. For an audience and for families, that one Sunday movie with samosa and popcorn is a tradition, so it can't suddenly vanish. It's only now because of the pandemic but yes filmmakers have a far less regimented chance as far as OTT is concerned. In films, you need stars, you need certain numbers certain viewership for it to become a hit etc but that's not the case with OTT.
Content has become paramount over the years
Shefali knows superstardom is never going to end just like the cinema halls but she is glad the storyline and content is better. "It's been a while we broke out of the mould of a hero and heroine. It's more about stories and of course women centric films that made a comeback. In the 60s and 70s, there was an Aaradhana, Aandhi, Mamta, so many movies revolved around women content. Technically, we have really progressed. The content that we belt out now is of international arena of work. The films that are not in the 100 crore club films are also doing well. have done super.
I couldn't have gotten more work but I didn't because she was stereotyped
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I don't think it had anything to do with me coming from outside. Also, i took decisions where i played a much older woman when i was far younger.. I didn't fit into a heroine category cos i had played age. I don't think its fierce now cos back then also it wasn't easy for me now. It depends on case to case, who is ready to put that money on you.
Shefali feels people should not scrutinize celebs so much
Shefali makes a valid point about using social media, She says there is nothing else to do. "There is no thought or plan behind posting on social media. I am usually in my kaftans, no make up usually cooking. It's got nothing to do with being a celeb. I have been clear that I want to known for my work than fash. I have been cooking, writing because I want to and the kind of response I was getting was extremely heartwarming."
Shefali plans to take writing professionally and even direction. Concluding the interview, Shefali spoke about the current situation that is heartbreaking. "The fact that he passed away is very sad. And now the circus that is built around it is sad. I feel terribly sad . I am glad they are looking into a probe. It's messy and Its become a national news and probabyl it deserves but one loss of life is bad enough. I dont know what is right and wrong but I feel sad for a loss of life."
Saloni Singh is the Lifestyle editor at Indiatimes. As a seasoned writer and editor, Saloni brings a wealth of experience and a keen eye for detail to the dynamic world of celebrity fashion, wellness, health and travel. Saloni crafts content that not only informs and educates but also inspires readers to live their most stylish, healthy and adventurous lives.
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