Appreciation from people is my Award: Shefali

Shefali Shah who garnered not only eyeballs for her stupendous performance in 'Dil Dhadakane Do' but also is receiving positive appreciations from all the big wigs of the industry. On hoarding all the applauses for DDD she talks to Lipika Varma giving away a sneak peek.

Shefali is good at emoting her best she says, “Because I don’t know any other way to do it. Sometimes I say this, “I wish I was an actor but I am not. I can’t act, I do not have the craft, I feel it and it comes out that’s the only way I know which is not great all the time. At times you may not feel an emotion and yet you have do it. Well luckily my emotions have not let me down, that’s the way I know sometimes I wish I knew something else .

About getting into the character, she adds, "I dwell in the same space for ever- no!I do not, because when the scene starts - I am Nelam Mehra. I can’t be Shefali for e.g. in the emotional scenes in DD I am totally drained. I like to be left alone and enjoy the gorgeous situation after I have given everything to it.”

Shefali is not a switch of and off actor - “No I am not a switch on and a switch off actor. If in a scene I am laughing then it does not work, sulking or crying every actor needs to re-grow. I need to shut out and go in harness to be able to get that energy - this is the way I work. I do not know exactly, "kaise bolungi?” I only know Neelam will do like this. I don’t know what I do when the director says action. But I don’t remember what I did.” She smiles

Explaining the blocking done on her part she quips, I read in one of the interview Anil said, “What Shefali does I wouldn’t know because she does one thing in the rehearsals and does something else in the take?” Yes barring the physical structure while blocking for my performance if I have to lose my cool how it has to be done? With what intensity? It comes to me on an extempore basis. I myself won’t know what am I going to do. However, yes, I will maintain certain consistency. But that magic element happens which is not in my control.

On commercial films being the most watched, she says, "Definitely the thrill of working in a commercial is - a lot of people go to watch the flick. That’s the best part of being in a commercial film. 'Last Lear' is a National Award winning film, but how many may have seen it. With DDD, the response from actors, directors I got was great. Also it is a box office hit film."

Getting Awards don't matter to Shefali, "Awards - I do not know, I have never thought like working to get Awards only for any of my work. For me, the thrill, the most exciting part is not even the release, the important part is making the film. If that is over the film for me is over. Javed Akhtar said, "kitne shelf banaoge? Undoubtedly being praised by Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Amitabh Bachchan also Ashutosh Gowarikar, it feels great. I am happy that Zoya wanted to put the major cast on the posters as that was important. Usually the poster has only the Hero and Heroine. Zoya and Reema along with Javed Sahab said, "We walked out with you…that’s my Award."

About her next film, "Brothers” she says, "In 'Brothers', it’s a small bit, I am playing an extremely small role and it’s just a guest appearance. But this character is the binding emotional thread of the entire film, she is the reason why all come together. It was great fun working with Karan Malhotra, he was passionate having me on the board, this part is important for him and the film.

Working with hubby Vipul, "I would love to work with Vipul. Actually we respect each other too much therefore just to compromise, he will never offer me any role, unless I deserve it. I’ll never tell him to make a film for me.”

On production jobs, "I hate production job. I will never be able to understand production. I am an absolute creative person. At the most I can see the rough edit and read script. Vipul is very good at it, he handles everything while producing a film. At home all the expenses I take care of them. Unless bigger ones come up, we both discuss although I give him money for his wallet for his daily expenses. I am the Home Minister but he is the Minister of film production I never interfere, concludes Shefali.

By Lipika Varma