DCP Vartika Chaturvedi in ‘Delhi Crime’, Gauri Nath in ‘Human’, or Shamshun in ‘Darlings’, actor Shefali Shah knows how to seamlessly bend with the universe of the story and deliver performances so real. Making her character believable is Shefali's USP as an actor and being natural onscreen is what she aims for every time she takes up any role. With over two decades spent in the industry and roles that are finally written for her, the 49-year-old is instrumental in giving women's roles a new definition.
As ‘Darlings’ is set for the World Television Premiere on Zee Cinema on 29th January at 12 pm, we spoke to Shefali about why this project was important for her, her similarity with the character she portrayed in Jasmeet K Reen's directorial, the importance of humility and vulnerability in her life and her journey.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. There are very few actors who seamlessly blend with the universe of the story and deliver performances so real. You are one such actor with the recent being Darlings. What was the biggest takeaway of this character which you still carry with yourself?
Shefali Shah: Honestly, she is very very close to who I am as a person. She is funny, she has a wicked sense of humour and she is fiercely protective about her child and these are the main traits that I have. I also feel that in our society, there are certain ways of thinking but if parents or sisters or family start thinking differently and work towards believing that their child or, their family or the person in their family is most precious then they can probably have a clearer picture of the guidance that they want to give them instead of saying that stick to a certain way of life or relationship just because you got into a commitment but if it's not making someone happy, is it worth it? It’s the question that everyone needs to ask and support it.
Q. A part of the character that you took back?
SS: Well if a relationship isn’t helping you or isn’t making you happy, it's not worth dragging it.
Q. 'Darlings' was a very important project for your career, your life? Why was that?
SS: Because it was a genre I haven’t been offered before. Because of the kind of work I have done, I have been perceived as a very intense, serious person. I am an intense person but I am not necessarily serious. I have a side of me that people do not even expect and 'Darlings' was exploring that side of me. . It was a comedy, and light-hearted. She is sharp, she is wicked, and she has a way of putting her stuff across with humour which was great fun for me. Just because of the fact that people have perceived me in the role which was not necessarily just the serious person so it was very very important for me. And the way I saw the film was that it was a mother-daughter film.
Q. Shefali I had the opportunity to recently watch 'Human' and the way you portrayed this complex character of Gauri Nath was captivating. So Humans to Darlings to Delhi crime, it seems you love giving projection and variety to your role. Do you think you are trying to put together whole different characteristics of women onscreen?
SS: Well, that is the point of being an actor. I can play so many different characters. if I played similar characters then what's the point, that’s not exciting, for example, I was giving one of the interviews and one of my co-actors registered, she said that In 'Darlings' and 'Jalsa' both my characters were Muslim, both were women who love cooking, both were independent, both were extremely protective of their children and both came from same strata of the society so technically the block of it was very similar but they had to become their own people. Both the characters were completely different people and that is exactly why I love acting so much so that I become different people. I don’t want to just see another version of me everywhere, it's pointless.
Q. When you look back at your journey and where you are today? Does it look like an easy journey?
SS: I wouldn’t say it was a rewarding journey until the last two or three years. I got a lot of love and appreciation but it didn’t translate into work. As far as the struggle is concerned, I don’t look at my work and journey as a struggle. It's part of the parcel of doing what you do and then there are ups and downs, it's a given, it's not a struggle. I chose to be part of this and I chose to do this. Yes, the last two or three years have been extremely rewarding and exactly what I work for.
Q. you represent this strong confident woman who is very sure about her thoughts and ideas but did you ever experience self-doubts about yourself as an actor especially when you were offered roles that were not meant for you?
SS: Every time I go on set, my first thought is 'OMG, I am not going to know'. I just won't know what I am going to do when the director says action. And trust me this happens to me every time I go on set. I know it sounds like it can't be but it is a fact. I have self-doubt all the time whether it is as an actor or as a person, but I.
Q. That believability is a must when you are on screen and it's inspiring to see your journey. While making your path, what are the biggest learnings or revelations as an actor?
SS: Well, I take what I do very seriously but I don’t take myself seriously. There is a lot of difference in that and it has worked for me. Humility is a great strength and vulnerability has immense power. And I would never want to let go of that side of me. Also, gut instinct, my instinct has worked for me so despite being told that you should be doing big films which didn’t touch my heart immediately, I have said no to it. It might not have been a big career decision but it has worked for me so yeah that's my learning and every project that I do is a fresh slate. It's like starting off all over again and facing the camera for the first time every time so what works for me. I have never gone on set thinking I got this. I never ever feel like that. The day I feel that I have got this, I think that would be a failure for me and that would probably be where I stop growing.
Q. There is this re-discovery of Shefali shah as an actor with the emergence of OTT. Did you dream that it would grow up like this?
SS: No, not at all. Forget about Shefali shah, I think some years ago if somebody would have said that a woman in her 40s is going to lead, it would have been difficult for anyone to believe because heroes and heroines leads were only supposed to be between 18-25 and if anybody would have said this about me, I would have said you are kidding right. I never thought that this would happen and I am glad it did.
Q. So Did you plan for it to go this way?
SS: I never plan my career, I have done what I instinctively felt inclined towards. I didn’t know that there was going to be an ott boom, I didn’t know where 'Delhi Crime' was going to go. The first time Richie Mehta met me, in the first five minutes I said yes to this project because I had to be part of this. But none of it was on board.
Q. What does a day in Shefali Shah look like when I am not working?
SS: I try to catch up with friends, I sleep, I read or watch something if I feel kind enough towards my family, and I may cook and hang around with my dogs. Doing nothing is a very difficult part of me the days I am not working, I have to be like omg I have to go on sets.
