SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA REMINISCES ABOUT HER BAAZIGAR DAYS

Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who completes 25 years in the Hindi film industry today, says she never planned her career and that’s probably why she lasted this long in Bollywood

Shilpa says that when her debut film was being shot, she was a nervous wreck, but Shah Rukh Khan helped her calm down. “He said, ‘the camera is your audience’. That line has stayed with me till date,” she says.

For a rank newcomer, landing a role in a Bollywood film without even giving a screen test is a big deal. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who made her foray into films with Baazigar, which released 25 years ago on November 12, 1993, says that Baazigar wasn’t even supposed to be her introductory film.

“I was supposed to make my debut with another film but as things work in the industry, that didn’t happen. Abbas and Mustan sir (film-makers) didn’t even ask me to give a screen test, and roped me in after seeing my pictures. At 17, if you asked me if I knew what I was getting into, I would say I had no idea my life would turn out to be like this. I just wanted to do one film and see how things worked out for me. But as luck would have it, Baazigar turned out to be a platinum jubilee hit,” she reminisces.

Shilpa also lets us in on a little trivia on the 25th anniversary of the cult film. “Sridevi ji was supposed to play a double role in the film. But that did not work out, and two leading ladies were roped in later — me and Kajol. Shah Rukh Khan, too, wasn’t a huge superstar then, Kajol’s debut film Bekhudi (1992), too, hadn’t worked, and I was a newcomer, so it was a gamble of sorts. But once the film released, the three of us became stars. Even before Baazigar had released, Ratan Jain, the producer of the film, signed me for a three film deal. First was Baazigar, second was Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and the third was Dhadkan (2000) — all three turned out to be the biggest hits of my career,” she says.

Shilpa recalls being a bundle of nerves on her first day on set and credits her co-stars, Shah Rukh and Kajol for helping her find her feet. “I remember I was so insecure as a 17 year old girl because I didn’t even know how to speak Hindi perfectly. I was scared and I just wanted to do my scenes and go home. But Shah Rukh sensed my nervousness and calmed me down. He sat me down and told me that the camera is your audience.

That line has stayed with me till date. When I see Baazigar now, I always cringe because I was rubbish (laughs),” she adds.

The actor decided to take a break from films, after she got married to Raj Kundra. During that phase, Shilpa turned to television and since then, has been a part of the judging panel on several reality/talent shows. But she confesses that she doesn’t feel like she has been around for 25 years. “What’s wonderful is that I’m still as excited to work and I feel fresh. I never felt the years go by, and what’s beautiful is that I still get a lot of love and work. But I feel like I still have 10 years and will need a few more wrinkles to be called a veteran actor. I am hoping Yoga helps me deal with that,” she concludes.

I was scared and I just wanted to do my scenes and go home. But Shah Rukh sensed my nervousness and calmed me down. SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA, ACTOR