Cue for more comedies: Shefali Shah says playing a 'wacko like Shamshu' in 'Darlings' was fun

As Darlings clocks a year of release, Shefali says she was offered only serious roles before the satire came her way

In a film about domestic violence, Darlings (2022) director Jasmeet K Reen snuck in a tender love story between Shefali Shah and Roshan Mathew’s characters. As the dark comedy completed a year of its release on August 5, Shah, looking back on the Alia Bhatt-starrer, says the romantic track took her by surprise. “I didn’t see it coming at all. The romance was short and sweet, and was handled with the sensitivity it required. People wanted a spin-off of Shamshu and Zulfi [Shah and Mathew’s characters respectively],” smiles the actor.

Shah has been enjoying the golden period of her career since Delhi Crime streamed in 2019. After shouldering the acclaimed crime drama, the actor took on myriad roles—be it a lonely wife who finds love in Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), or a house-help determined to seek justice for her daughter in Jalsa (2022). But she laments that her softer side isn’t explored enough. “I carry an image. Directors have said that I am intimidating and serious, assistant directors are instructed to speak to me only when spoken to. But a few hours down the line, they realise I am a different person altogether. [That’s why] I was excited when Darlings came my way. Playing a wacko like Shamshu was fun. I am hoping it showed directors that I am open to comedy.”

Currently, the actor is in discussion for four projects. And where does Delhi Crime 3 stand? “It’s in development. I am terrified of going in front of the camera as Vartika.”

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