Shefali Shah

I sometimes think people hire me only for my eyes. If they could, they'd probably say, please leave your eyes on the set, we don't need the rest of you.

A woman's physical body language and intelligence change as her age progresses.

Any artiste would die to be a part of a film like 'Gandhi My Father.' Director Feroz Abbas Khan had a very clear vision about what he wanted to make.

A role is a role where I play someone else, but when it comes to paintings, it is me. It is unadulterated Shefali and there is no control and I can let go. I am unabashedly unapologetic about it. That is what is interesting about my paintings.

I started painting incidentally, but it is just another form of expression. No one can stop me from what I do. When you are acting, you are given instructions by directors. This is completely my expression and my identity. No one can tamper with it.

Certain things are very important for me while saying 'yes' to a script. One is obviously the role and its importance to the film. When I say this, I don't mean the length. And last but not the least - the director.

My films are my choices and I am extremely proud to be associated with my projects.

After 'Waqt,' I was terrified I'd be offered all the mummy roles.

The industry is showing me respect as an actor.

Filmmakers would compliment my work, but when casting for a heroine, they'd never think of me.

I've always been greedy. I think every actor is greedy for good parts and stories, and it should be that way.

Initially it used to bother me that I wasn't working 365 days a year. But after a point I realised that the kind of work I want to do comes around rarely. And I would rather wait for it.

I don't know any other way of doing a show besides being completely consumed by it and the character.

I would have loved to play the role that Rani Mukherji did in 'Black' or Tabu's in 'The Namesake.'

I believe something that can be said in two words should not use four, and if something can be said without a word, don't use any.

On OTT, it's not about her or heroine, every single character is powerful and a hero, heroine in their own space.

The biggest advantage of OTT is that it is not confined to the box office.

I realise that there is a certain expectation from a 'typical heroine' in Bollywood. She is expected to be beautiful and have a toned body. And to achieve that, I have literally starved myself.

Playing the role of Vartika in 'Delhi Crime' was one of the most exhausting, consuming and enriching experiences of my career.

When one sees me on screen I hope he or she only sees and feels the character, not Shefali.

I am extremely choosy about the work I do.

I love what I do too much to compromise on it. I would rather wait for the work that excites me than just go and do a job so I can stay busy.

What I do in films is really special work but it doesn't happen everyday. On the other hand, art is completely my domain. It is my freedom of expression; I decide what I want to say, which satisfies and completes me.

Art has made me calmer and more content.

Art is a creative outlet and necessary for people involved in creativity.

With the digital space, you can see whatever you want in the confines of your home.

I always want to cut every single line, possibly, that is mine from the script. One of the first things I do on any script is to shred, shred and shred my lines.

Once you are a mother, you are always a mother.

I don't pick up a project based on its success ratio. If it instinctively hooks me, then it hooks me.

I can never visualise what the final product will look like and where it's going to go... that's not why and how I pick what I want to do.

I am a complete foodie and I enjoy cooking.

I don't know whether it is a boon or a bane but I can't act. I can just be. To me, that's the beauty of a performance. Otherwise, there is a falsetto, which sounds jarring.

Most actors work on a scene, I try to find out who the character is. So when a scene or a moment comes, I react the way she would react.

In the '80s, there was a fixed costume of a heroine, and not the physical costume, but this is what a heroine is, she is an art prop. She will look beautiful, support the hero, dance, get saved by hero. I didn't ever aim to go there.

Midway, when I was working full-fledged on TV, I realised I was loving it. I didn't have a manger, or anyone promoting me. I never went to ask for work, it came to me. I never asked for it, and it's not an ego thing. I thought if any director find me fit, he or she will offer it to me.

Acting happened to me incidentally, I never planned.

As an actor, the joy lies in being able to play roles that you are not. If I get a chance to play a sofa or alien, I would love it.

Doing 'Kucch Luv Jaisaa' was like a debut. There were never any apprehensions.

The thing with this industry is, it's in your face, it's there. You are privy to whatever goes on, and somehow people have this sense of entitlement towards actors and filmmakers' life. It's like you don't have any privacy, your life is out there for people to see.

Things are fair and unfair, whichever profession you take. Every profession cannot have a 100% rate of fairness.

Everyone makes their own path and learning.

There were years where I kept saying no to work because it was just being so unfair. And then 'Juice' happened. And then there was 'Once Again,' that's a very sweet and gentle love story. And then there was 'Delhi Crime.' And all three of them put me into the centre of the frame.

I did a show where I played the mother of a 15-year-old, I was 20 years old when I played a mom of 45. And then, when I was around 28-30, I played mother to Akshay Kumar. So I got typecast very early, if I didn't even have to reach a certain age point.

I was typecast in a mother's role very early in life. I didn't even reach a certain age. I was 20.

Immediately after 'Dil Dhadakne Do' in which I played a mother, I made the choice of not doing films which put me in the same bracket.

I don't want to put myself in a small block. That will be limiting myself and no actor wants to do that.

There is no dearth of good work or wonderful roles.

For me, quality of role is important than the length of the role.

TV requires long working hours and deep-rooted commitment.

I have played quite a few roles almost double my age. I don't regret those decisions and feel proud to have been part of 'Gandhi My Father' and 'Waqt.'