She has breathed life into several powerful roles, but oddly enough, love stories have largely eluded Shefali Shah in her 26-year career. Which is why she lapped up the opportunity to be part of Ajeeb Daastaans, the upcoming Netflix anthology that studies different shades of love.

“I am a hard-core romantic at heart. So, this project was a dream come true. I prefer sequences and moments that are [subtle]; the unsaid is always so much stronger and more heartfelt. I would also love to do a silent love story,” says the actor, who briefly flirted with romance in Once Again (2018). 

Directed by Kayoze Irani, the short film in the anthology sees Shah play a woman struggling with her husband’s cold behaviour and daughter’s hearing impairment. She finds solace in a hearing- and speech-impaired man, played by Manav Kaul. For her role, Shah learnt sign language. “We had a wonderful teacher in Sitaram sir. If you understand the language instead of only learning the [corresponding signs for] the dialogues, you have the freedom of expanding your character. When I learnt the language, I realised there is so much noise around us. I want to continue learning it.”

Through her character Natasha, the film beautifully explores a forbidden love story that stems from loneliness. “Natasha may come across as selfish, but you are not in her shoes to understand what she feels. What I like about the script is that it does not give a justification for [her actions].”