‘I HAVE NEVER BEEN IMAGE-CONSCIOUS’

Actor Shilpa Shirodkar hopes for a second innings in films; talks about her “fun” TV career

S(right) hilpa Shirodkar has returned to television after a year. Her last outing was Silsila Pyaar Ka (SPK), which ended last year. “When one show ends, it is not easy to get another good show. It was challenging, as I didn’t know what would come next or if it will be as interesting as the previous one,” says the Ek Mutthi Aasmaan actor. She is currently enjoying working with young talent in her new TV show. “Working with a big team and an ensemble of actors is fun and exciting. The dedication and enthusiasm of young actors is lovely and one can learn a lot from that,” she adds. Playing a mother in a daily soap isn’t new to Shilpa, as she has played one in each of her three shows. “In Silsila, I played an obsessive mum who felt that only she could wish well for her son. In Ek Mutthi Aasmaan, I played a strong mum who didn’t want her daughter to be a maid like her. Now, I am playing a mother who is nice, but has an agenda. I have never been image-conscious. Your image is set by what you do every day.” Although, Shilpa has been busy with TV shows of late, the actor, started her career with films. She debuted with Bhrashtachar (1989), and then went on to do a number of films such as Kishen Kanhaiya (1990), Hum (1991), Khuda Gawah (1993) and Gopi Kishan (1994), among others. She later got married and took a break from acting only to return with a television show in 2013. Now, Shilpa is hopeful of a second innings in films. She says, “I have done a film with Rikkuji (Rakeshnath, producer), and hopefully, it should release this year. I hope it becomes a turning point in my career, and I get more offers. I want to do something interesting. Nothing has happened on the film front for me. The industry is like a close family, and everyone is aware of which actor is available and which actor won’t do a certain film. So, people know that I am busy with TV, and they know if an actor is committed to a television show, there isn’t much time to do anything else. People understand the responsibility that an actor has when he or she is doing TV. I am waiting to do a good film though.”

The dedication and enthusiasm of young actors is lovely and one can learn a lot from that SHILPA SHIRODKAR, ACTOR