Quotes from Shefali Shah

I think as an actor it's always a challenge to experiment and play something that you're not. What's the point if I play Shefali in every film?

I don't have a sense of fear. If someone warns me saying you cannot do this, it is extremely difficult, I am capable of doing it.

The basic thing you teach your children is to respect other people. It is not rocket science; it's as simple as brushing your teeth.

In the '80s, there was a fixed costume of a heroine, and not the physical costume, but this is what a heroine is, she is an art prop. She will look beautiful, support the hero, dance, get saved by hero. I didn't ever aim to go there.

Honestly, when I am filming for anything, I do it because I love it so much. And then whatever happens is fate.

I always want to cut every single line, possibly, that is mine from the script. One of the first things I do on any script is to shred, shred and shred my lines.

After 'Waqt,' I was terrified I'd be offered all the mummy roles.

I think terrorism is a cruel waste of life.

I have jumped off a balcony from the second floor.

What I do in films is really special work but it doesn't happen everyday. On the other hand, art is completely my domain. It is my freedom of expression; I decide what I want to say, which satisfies and completes me.

Women are like wine: strong, spirited, full bodied, intoxicating, and potent. And we never cease to surprise.

Any artiste would die to be a part of a film like 'Gandhi My Father.' Director Feroz Abbas Khan had a very clear vision about what he wanted to make.

I genuinely believe that our daughters would be safe if our sons are raised right.

There is no dearth of good work or wonderful roles.

Being an actress has the same requirements as being an actor, but it needs more. Fair, reed thin, tall, can lip-synch, can dance, can fight, ideally can act, has to be single all her life and most importantly, needs to be PG18 bracket.

Filmmaking involves a lot of passion, hard work, thought process and money. But 'Gandhi My Father' is a selfless film, a film made with complete selflessness. We all went beyond ourselves.

I don't pick up a project based on its success ratio. If it instinctively hooks me, then it hooks me.

Most actors work on a scene, I try to find out who the character is. So when a scene or a moment comes, I react the way she would react.

Midway, when I was working full-fledged on TV, I realised I was loving it. I didn't have a manger, or anyone promoting me. I never went to ask for work, it came to me. I never asked for it, and it's not an ego thing. I thought if any director find me fit, he or she will offer it to me.

Initially it used to bother me that I wasn't working 365 days a year. But after a point I realised that the kind of work I want to do comes around rarely. And I would rather wait for it.

I've always been greedy. I think every actor is greedy for good parts and stories, and it should be that way.

I refer to myself as an actor. I mean, why is there an 'actor' and an 'actress' when there is no 'doctor' and 'doctoress' or 'lawyer' and 'lawyeress?'

When one sees me on screen I hope he or she only sees and feels the character, not Shefali.

Filmmakers would compliment my work, but when casting for a heroine, they'd never think of me.