Quotes from Shefali Shah

On OTT, it's not about her or heroine, every single character is powerful and a hero, heroine in their own space.

I've neglected my own vanity. Not that I regret it, but looking good is part of my job.

I have played quite a few roles almost double my age. I don't regret those decisions and feel proud to have been part of 'Gandhi My Father' and 'Waqt.'

I sometimes think people hire me only for my eyes. If they could, they'd probably say, please leave your eyes on the set, we don't need the rest of you.

I am a full time mother and a housewife. I don't think I need anything else to do.

As actors, we want to show our acting prowess but one has to understand what to show and when to show. I learnt very early in my life that it is not required to be in the forefront all the time. There is a moment that belongs to you but when you are not needed, you need to disappear.

The Gandhis are not ordinary Indians.

I behave instinctively and impulsively.

I started painting incidentally, but it is just another form of expression. No one can stop me from what I do. When you are acting, you are given instructions by directors. This is completely my expression and my identity. No one can tamper with it.

I am constantly in a need to create irrespective of the medium. When I started out, I did sketch and I continue to do so on paper sometimes. Mainly, I work with acrylic and ink. Honestly, I don't have the patience for oil paint to dry.

It is a huge responsibility to make sure your son never ever treats anyone wrong.

As an actor, the joy lies in being able to play roles that you are not. If I get a chance to play a sofa or alien, I would love it.

I was typecast in a mother's role very early in life. I didn't even reach a certain age. I was 20.

I did a show where I played the mother of a 15-year-old, I was 20 years old when I played a mom of 45. And then, when I was around 28-30, I played mother to Akshay Kumar. So I got typecast very early, if I didn't even have to reach a certain age point.

I realise that there is a certain expectation from a 'typical heroine' in Bollywood. She is expected to be beautiful and have a toned body. And to achieve that, I have literally starved myself.

I took up 'Waqt' and 'Gandhi My Father' because they were very too special to be missed.

I have always stuck to my belief and conviction no matter how unconventional.

There were years where I kept saying no to work because it was just being so unfair. And then 'Juice' happened. And then there was 'Once Again,' that's a very sweet and gentle love story. And then there was 'Delhi Crime.' And all three of them put me into the centre of the frame.

Things are fair and unfair, whichever profession you take. Every profession cannot have a 100% rate of fairness.

I am a spontaneous actor. I don't like giving more than two takes.

The fact that 'Delhi Crime' dropped on Netflix and 191 countries in one go, that reach is humungous.

What I normally do with long scenes is that I understand the emotional content and the words fall into place.

I won't take the credit of being a good actor but I do feel that there are good directors who are boldly experimenting with unorthodox subjects. I have been lucky to be part of these projects.

For me personally, I feel that a film that doesn't end with a happy ending has a far bigger reach. It lingers on far more. Unrequited love stories have much more impact on the audiences. If 'Romeo and Juliet' had been happily married and had kids and dogs, I don't think it would have been a classic.