Love comes knocking at Shefali Shah’s door

The short film, starring Manav Kaul and Shefali Shah, is helmed by Kayoze Irani

She has breathed life into several powerful roles, but oddly enough, love stories have largely eluded Shefali Shah in her 26-year career. Which is why she lapped up the opportunity to be part of Ajeeb Daastaans, the upcoming Netflix anthology that studies different shades of love.

"I am a hard-core romantic at heart. So, this project was a dream come true. I prefer sequences and moments that are [subtle]; the unsaid is always so much stronger and more heartfelt. I would also love to do a silent love story," says the actor, who briefly flirted with romance in Once Again (2018).

Directed by Kayoze Irani, the short film in the anthology sees Shah play a woman struggling with her husband's cold behaviour and daughter's hearing impairment. She finds solace in a hearing- and speech-impaired man, played by Manav Kaul. For her role, Shah learnt sign language. "We had a wonderful teacher in Sitaram sir. If you understand the language instead of only learning the [corresponding signs for] the dialogues, you have the freedom of expanding your character. When I learnt the language, I realised there is so much noise around us. I want to continue learning it."

Through her character Natasha, the film beautifully explores a forbidden love story that stems from loneliness. "Natasha may come across as selfish, but you are not in her shoes to understand what she feels. What I like about the script is that it does not give a justification for [her actions]."