Ahead of her return to acting with web show 'Yeh Ke Hua Bro', Shamita Shetty says her search for 'quality screen time' robbed her of good offers
Shamita Shetty
Shamita Shetty
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In an industry that runs on family lineage, Shamita Shetty's inability to make a mark in Bollywood was questioned. Shilpa Shetty Kundra's younger sister ticked all the checkboxes when it came to the qualities a quintessential Bollywood actor needs — good looks, famous sibling and a dream debut. But, the Yash Raj film, Mohabbatein (2000), failed to propel her to stardom. "The industry is a tough place to be part of," she says 17 years later.
After a short stint as interior designer, Shetty returns to acting with the web show, Yeh Ke Hua Bro, for Voot. Calling this series synonymous to working on her first film, Shetty reflects on her failures and eternal wait for the "right role."
Excerpts from the interview:
What prompted you to take up a web series?
We are living in a digital age and people are experimenting with interesting scripts [online]. So, it is the right time to be a part of it. Given that there is no censorship online, people can make what they believe is exciting. Yeh Ke Hua Bro is a comic thriller that follows two girls as they make the boys dance to their tunes. I've returned to acting after long. It was like working on my first film.
Why have you been away from films for so long?
It wasn't a planned sabbatical. I began my career with the best banner, but made a few mistakes in the successive years. I didn't want to be part of films just for screen time. Doing good quality roles has always been a priority, but, such offers were limited. The wait for the right role kept getting longer. In the industry, if you're out of sight, you're out of mind. When people rarely saw me on screen, they thought I was not interested in acting. I believe luck didn't favour me. I think I said 'no' to too many offers. I wishI hadn't turned so many down.
Did you believe that reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Bigg Boss would boost your career?
I didn't know what I was getting into while signing up for Bigg Boss. I just wanted to try something new. While the shows taught me a lot, I'm still waiting for something good to come my way. But, the industry is a tough place to be part of. Success doesn't last forever, and failure changes you. It can bring out the worst in you.
What would you call the high-point of your career?
My launch with a YRF film, helmed by Aditya Chopra. Having said that, I think Zeher (2005) changed how people perceived me as an actor.
Do you feel burdened being Shilpa Shetty's sister?
Yes! I was not prepared for it initially, but I became immune to the comparison as the years went by. It's silly to compare two people. We are not alike. Now it doesn't affect me anymore.
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