Exclusive: Shilpa Shetty Kundra on being a supernova of positivity, her second innings on OTT & more

Shilpa Shetty Kundra. One envies her for her hourglass figure, which she still has managed to maintain even after two children. She was known for her dance numbers. Contestants look up in awe when she dons the dancing shoes and shows them how it’s done during reality shows. She’s battled many storms and has emerged a bolder, better version of herself. Her halo hasn’t lost its glow, in fact, it has only increased. In her latest film, Sukhee, she plays a middle class homemaker who gets a chance to relive her 20s all over again when she visits a reunion. It’s a story we all can relate to. Shilpa reveals she’s playing the everywoman in the film and insists she relates to most things shown in the film. She talks about finding herself through movies in a moving interview…

Sukhee is the story of a woman who goes through a midlife crisis. Do you identify with her?

Women think that we are in charge of everyone's lives but our own and I identify with that. It is a beautiful script and film. Sukhee has gratified me as an artiste. I have just played the role, but it is the story of many women around me. It is every woman’s story.

How’s your relationship with your in-laws?

They live in London, so whenever I go there, I live with them. When they come here, they live with us. My mother-in-law is amazing. She is excited about this film because I play a Punjabi housewife and have spoken a few lines in Punjabi. She was telling me that when she was working–they had shifted to London 40 years ago–she couldn’t even speak English. I don’t know how she survived. Once, my mother-in-law told a scary story about how they worked in a cotton factory in the early years. When they went to work, they used to leave Raj (Kundra) in the car with a bottle of milk in the parking lot and they would keep the window slightly open so that he didn’t suffocate. They would come back to check on him during the lunch break. They struggled so much during the initial years. She always tells me, “Don’t stop working; I will come and take care of your kids.” She loves me and I have tremendous love and respect for her.”

Have you ever gone through an identity crisis?

No, never. I am Shilpa Shetty and I made my name and place in the industry. It’s my 30th year and I feel happy that I’m still relevant. I started off in the movies and have since transitioned into many other fields, but movies will always be my first love.

I have often thought that I need five days of peace. Without my husband, without children—and I am saying this very selfishly—it’s not a bad thing to be selfish sometimes. I am happy to talk about this. At least some discussion is happening on this topic. What no one says is that they feel that if we talk about our worth, then we will be judged. At least we have said this in a lighter vein in Sukhee. The film revolves around a woman in her 40s. She used to be a different person when she was in her 20s. She was more bindaas, more outgoing and adventurous. She comes to understand that she has changed from all that and instead of living for herself, she has started living for her family, husband and children. And going to a reunion gives her that chance to relive her younger days all over again. She grows because of that experience and comes back a better person.

Have you also gone through that phase?

We’ve all gone through that phase. I think that one thing we all share in common is ‘guilt’. I am talking about women who are homemakers at heart. You view me and describe me as a homemaker, actor and entrepreneur. I am on social media, I am on YouTube and I was the first actress to be on Doordarshan. I have done all these things, but in my heart I am a mother first. All children should respect their mothers. I am a hands-on mom. I know what they want in their tiffin, what they want for dinner, what my husband wants to eat, how much to pay the household help and what the current price of tomatoes is. Yes, I micromanage all that every day. I run my household like any other Indian woman.

Indian women have been brought up believing that. My parents brought me up with that ethos because their parents had inculcated the same into them and so on. I’ve tried to inculcate middle-class values in my children. The only difference is that they are a little more privileged. But at the same time, they know the value of everything we give them. We had to wait till Diwali so that we could get new clothes and we were so happy doing so. My children don’t know the value of that. Both Raj and I were brought up in middle-class families. But our children have rich parents and both Raj and me want them to have hunger, a fire in the belly, like we had when we were growing up.

The industry has given us so much love and respect; why would I ever want to show disrespect by doing that? We brought them into this world, but they have their own lives and their own destiny. We can give them the building blocks—a strong foundation. We can’t live their lives.

How have you changed as an actor and as a person over the years?

We all change and evolve as people with time and experience teaches you a lot. In the last three years, we have all seen the harsh realities of life during COVID times. So many people couldn't even afford their daily meals. Fortunately, we didn't go through that. Whatever difficult journey I have gone through has changed me a lot. It has changed the way I smile, the way I react and the way I look at things. I think it reflects on celluloid. I have changed not only as a person but also as an actor, it has matured me over the years.

Samisha hasn’t watched my film, but Viaan loved the promo for the movie and has started respecting me more now.

What are the pluses and minuses of this profession?

The plus is that you get a lot of love. I would like to say that the pluses outweigh the minuses. The minus is that you are always judged. And in today’s social media age, it has worsened.

In the film industry, you always have to remain glamorous. Do you enjoy it or find it irritating sometimes?

I like dressing up. But sometimes you do go out in casual clothes, especially when you are just enjoying a ride with the kids. And when the media shows up, it’s sometimes awkward because people have a certain image of us. And it’s hard to live up to that image always. I can’t just wear anything and go out. But that’s part and parcel of this profession.

How do you deal with the media's scrutiny?

I try to ignore it. I’ve reached that stage in life where such things don’t matter, actually. I’ve gone through various storms and the experience has made me stronger. I walk the straight path. Even during the worst phase of my life, I’ve stood by what I believe is right.

Well, I have always been positive. I think this perception has deepened because of the reality shows that I have been doing. People see the real me in such shows. And they like that because I am not playing any character there.

What would be your relationship advice to women?

Be honest and never fight with your partner in front of your children. That’s what my parents have taught me; I had never seen them argue or fight during my growing-up years. I am sure they did, but they never did it in front of us.