Shefali Shah says she is ''obsessed'' with work but none of her career choices stem from a desire to be continuously seen on screen. In 2022, the versatile actor has featured in critical successes such as shows "Human" and ''Delhi Crime 2'', as well as movies "Jalsa" with Vidya Balan, "Darlings" co-starring Alia Bhatt, and the recently released "Doctor G" alongside Ayushmann Khurrana.
''This is the first year in my entire life where I have had five releases and it wasn't planned,'' Shefali told PTI in an interview. "I have never done so much work in my entire life that I did in past one year. I went from 'Human' to 'Jalsa' to 'Doctor G'. It is such a wide array... I don't understand business, but I don't want to work just because I have to be seen,'' she added.
The actor said the current phase of her career is like a ''win-win'' situation as she is getting the opportunity to play interesting parts. "It is a win-win. I think anybody who was offered 'Delhi Crime' would blindly say yes,'' she said. Known for her roles in TV series ''Banegi Apni Baat'' and ''Hasratein'' and films "Satya", "Waqt: The Race Against Time", "Gandhi, My Father" and "Dil Dhadakne Do" among others, Shefali said she makes sure all her characters are ''distinctively different''.
"Every character has to be a distinctively different person. You don't remember Shefali Shah, you remember a character and that is my intent," she added.
The 49-year-old actor said she is glad that filmmakers are able to look beyond her image of a serious performer. "As an actor, I am happy I am able to break the thing that 'she does serious roles', 'Darlings' was great and refreshing. 'Doctor G' is a funny film but the character I am playing is very serious.'' In ''Doctor G", Shefali essays the role of Dr. Nandini Srivastav. The actor said she found the script of the Anubhuti Kashyap-directed movie ''interesting''. The campus comedy drama follows Uday Gupta (Ayushmann), a budding doctor, who ends up as the only male gynaecologist in an all-women batch.
"I found the script really funny and it is very interesting because you normally talk about women in a man's world and here you are talking about men in a woman's world," she said.
Following ''Doctor G'', Shefali said she will have some time off and will start working on new projects next year. ''There are two projects that I will do next year but they are still in the scripting stage, so I am just waiting."
(ANI)
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.