Shefali Shah has proved her versatility over the years in industry, despite earning critical acclaim for her stellar performances in films like Monsoon Wedding and Waqt , recognition in mainstream Hindi cinema took its time.
Her career witnessed a remarkable turnaround when she landed the lead role in the web series Delhi Crime, which became a defining moment in her acting journey.
Twinkle Khanna recalls Shefali Shah’s emotional moment
In a recent candid chat with Shefali on her YouTube channel Tweak India, Twinkle Khanna recalled an emotional episode from their past. Twinkle shared, “Shefali is an old friend, and once, while we were sitting in my garden, she was upset about not getting the kind of work she deserved. She was crying. But every story has a twist-suddenly, we heard a rustle in the bushes, and it turned out to be my son holding a video camera, recording the whole thing. Some people have a sex tape floating around… she has a sobbing tape.”
Reacting to the story, Shefali jokingly added, “Maybe we should put it out now; I’ll get popular.”
Breaking stereotypes and redefining her career
Early in her career, Shefali often portrayed motherly roles-famously playing Akshay Kumar’s mother in Waqt despite being younger than him. She also essayed a mother’s role in Dil Dhadakne Do. However, after that film, Shefali made a conscious decision to stop accepting such parts to avoid being typecast.
She explained, “After Dil Dhadakne Do, I made a strategic choice not to play mothers to people only a few years younger than me. I was offered Neerja and Kapoor & Sons, both of which I loved, but I knew doing them would mark the end of diverse opportunities for me. My career has had more waiting than acting. But during that wait, casting director Mukesh Chhabra called me for Delhi Crime. Within five minutes of meeting director Richie Mehta, I said yes.”
Delhi Crime: A defining chapter
Delhi Crime, which also starred Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain, and Rajesh Tailang, became a turning point in Shefali’s career. The Netflix show received global acclaim and made history by becoming the first Indian series to win the Best Drama Series award at the International Emmy Awards 2020.