Shefali Shah: My defining moment was when I chose to walk out of an unhappy relationship

Time of India

26-04-2025

Shefali Shah and (left) as DIG Vartika Chaturvedi in the OTT show Delhi Crime,which she says was a career-defining role for her (BCCL/ @shefalishahofficial)
A recent event hosted by the Lucknow chapter of FICCI FLO, turned into a significant one with the National Award winning actress
Shefali Shah
interacting with the lady members in a session titled 'Rise and Roar'.
Sharing her thoughts on various topics including her career, OTT, relationships and courage with Swati Verma and Vandita Agarwal, the Darlings actress began the session by sharing her warm first impression of the city. 'What I loved about Lucknow is how clean the roads are, the city is spaced out and well-planned. Yes, Chowk is a little different, but that's supposed to be like an old city,' she said with a smile.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Shefali spoke of her humble roots, being the daughter of a doctor and a Reserve Bank of India employee. 'I'm extremely lucky and a privileged daughter because of my parents, whom I credit for my values,' she shared. She further shared about her journey into acting, Shefali revealed that it was never a planned move. 'I hated studies, and going into acting was never on the horizon. I wanted to be an air hostess. However, I started with theatre, and then it all just happened organically,' she said with a smile.
The Satya and Dil Dhadakne Do actress also spoke about some defining moments of her life, receiving cheers and applause from the women in the room. 'As an actor, it might seem shocking, but my defining moment came just a couple of years ago, even after working for so long. That moment translated into more work. That happened with
Delhi Crime
for me, where my art was appreciated and I had the opportunity to play a lead role and work at my age,' she said, adding, 'Earlier, our traditional films mostly revolved around a hero-heroine and a pair of friends. For a very long time, there was no space for real characters. However, with the arrival of OTT, we now give space and consideration to characters.'
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Shefali Shah
Touching upon the evolution of content, Shefali called OTT a game-changer. 'It's not led by numbers, age, skin colour, or how beautiful or thin you are. OTT gives space for the real you and real characters. But yes, the charm of samosas and watching a movie in a theatre is irreplaceable. Still, OTT is a boon for actors like me, a platform where, in films, there hadn't been much character work for someone like me.'
Speaking of another turning point in her life that required courage, she shared, 'The second was when I chose to walk out of an unhappy relationship. Whether there is something else or not, the question was, do I want to live like this all my life? I probably could have been alone for the rest of my life, but I'm glad I took that step.'
On relationships and tolerance, the Hasratein and Juice actress, who is married to filmmaker Vipul Shah, added, 'There is a basic level of tolerance, and anyone in a marriage will stretch themselves. But when taking someone for granted piles up, that's when trouble begins. You may disagree, but respect towards each other must be there. Humour and wit are important to get through the journey of life, but we should also pay heed to situations when the jokes become too much,' she emphasized.
Known for her strong opinions and powerful characters, Shefali has perhaps not done many films but says she has always chosen roles with substance. 'When you decide to be that kind of actor, then you don't get to do many films, because characters like these don't come often. The kind of work I do doesn't come often, and I've learned to say no—and I have the privilege to do so. I am happiest on set. Even though I don't necessarily love all the people, I love the give and take in this craft.'
As the session drew to a close, and the women keenly listened to the profound conversation, Shefali, who has two sons Aryaman and Maurya, also reflected on parenting. 'Earlier, it used to be our mothers who led the narrative; now our children do. My parents taught me to be selfless. But now our kids are teaching us how self-preservation is important too. Parenting is both a bane and a boon, and it's a different journey for each parent,' she reflected.
Shefali (left) in a still from Three Of Us
Reflecting on her role in web series
Three of Us
, Shefali, who played a woman with dementia who goes back to her hometown to meet her childhood sweetheart, shared how it revealed her more vulnerable side to the world. 'I have this persona where I have to tell people, listen, I don't bite! I'm lucky and honoured that I'm extremely vulnerable and emotional, to the point of being wrong. When I played Shailaja, I was happy to get in touch with that softer side of mine,' she shared.
- Amina Ashraf
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