As an actor, I owe my sense of discipline & craft to Paresh Rawal: Shital Shah
Shital Shah
, who has directed Gujarati films like HuTuTuTu: Aavi Ramat Ni Rutu, Duniyadari and Saatam Aatham
,
was recently seen in the children's film Tomchi.
The actress-filmmaker says, 'While the film was released only recently, it was shot about seven years back.
I played a small role, but I felt glad because sadly, very few children's films are made in India.
I've always had a soft corner for children's films and my first film as an actor (My Friend Ganesha) was a children's film too, which was loved by the audience.'
'Acting has always been my first love'
Shital, who has done popular Hindi TV shows like Arjun and acted in Gujarati films like Saatam Aatham (which she directed too), is 'keen to get back to acting.'
She says, 'Acting has always been my first love. For 12 years, I lived in Mumbai and did TV shows, Hindi films, two south films and even theatre. After My Friend Ganesha, I shot for quite a few Hindi films but somehow, very few of them were released. By the time I was really good at acting, I switched to making films (smiles). From 2014 to 2024, I was busy directing feature films, corporate films, films for the government and podcasts.'
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Shital, a single mom to two daughters (Serena, 6, and Sara, 2), adds, 'When you are making films, it's such a consuming process that it's difficult to find time for acting projects. Also, I was keen to spend quality time with my daughters and was not ready to travel. But now, I want to face the camera again. I am already in talks for a couple of web shows, and I want to do Gujarati films too. So far, I have only acted in Gujarati films that I directed too.
Gujarati cinema is in a good space and there are some brave new filmmakers who are exploring different genres. I would love to work with them and act in good Gujarati films.'
'Like me, my daughters love to paint'
Shital, who is a trained Kathak and Odissi dancer and also a painter, says that her daughters 'love to paint.' She shares, 'At home, we rarely watch TV. They are into books and love to paint. We have a studio and on weekends, all of us (including her sister Shaina) paint and it can go on for hours.
I have enrolled Serena in an art class and both of them won gold medals in an art competition recently. To be able to delve into art with your kids is a blessing.'
'Feel lucky that I got to act on stage with Paresh Rawal'
Shital, who acted in the play Shaadi@Barbaadi.com with Paresh Rawal, shares, 'I consider myself lucky that I got to act on stage with him. I consider him as one of my mentors and I owe my sense of discipline and craft to Paresh bhai.
I learnt a lot from him while doing this comedy, which is the toughest genre. We did more than 200 shows and theatre made me understand the grammar and discipline of acting.'
She also recollects, 'I have been lucky to shoot at Dilip Kumar's house for a TV show that was produced by Saira Banu. So, I would meet them every day and Dilip Kumar had even told Dev Anand that I was a good actress, who met me a couple of times. I had even auditioned for one of his films. Unfortunately, the project never took off.'
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