Known for her daily soap outings, Shweta Tiwari has managed to strike a fine balance between fiction and non-fiction genres. She has participated in almost every reality show, including Bigg Boss and Nach Baliye. So, when she was offered Fear Factor: Khatron Ki Khiladi, she lapped it up. She says, “I have participated in every reality show possible. Khatron Ke Khiladi is a unique show in which you face your fears and attempt stunts that you don’t in your normal life. So, I decided to participate in it because of the element of adventure. Also, my daughter told me that if I didn’t take it up now, it would be too late for me to participate in this show in the future.”

The actress is shooting for the show in Cape Town, away from her children — Palak and Reyansh. She tells us that she misses them a lot and they are in constant touch with each other virtually. She shares, “At night, we sleep with our video calling app switched on so that we can see each other every time we wake up. We talk at every opportunity. I talk to my daughter before every stunt and after it to tell her how I have fared. My son wants me to get him a hippopotamus, which he calls ‘hippomonatus’ from South Africa to India for him. So, if in an episode I get to meet a hippopotamus, I am going to take him home, because my son wants it (laughs!).”

While many are struggling to find work, Shweta feels fortunate to be getting work during these challenging times. She says, “It has indeed been a difficult time for all of us. While I am grateful for the quality time spent with my children and family, I realised ki kaam karte rehna kitna important hai. Agar kaam ruk jaaye toh sab kuch ruk jaata hai. Your income may stop, but expenses don’t. You have to pay the EMIs and other expenses. So, it was very important to work. I thank my stars that today I have work and I can look after my kids.”

Post Khatron Ke Khiladi, she plans to get back to the fiction genre provided the concept is good and shows her in a never-seen-before avatar. “Whenever I am offered a show, I look at the graph of my character to ensure that it’s interesting so that I am not bored before the show has ended. If something interesting comes my way, I’ll take it up, be it a negative or a positive character, naagin ho ya daayan ho. I am a daily soap actress.”

On the personal front, Shweta has in recent times been in the news for her ugly public spat with her estranged husband, Abhinav Kohli. The latter has accused her of not allowing him to meet their son and leaving him alone amid the pandemic while she has gone abroad to shoot for the reality show.

Refusing to comment on her personal life, Shweta says, “Look, everyone faces some problem in their life. Ups and downs are a part of life. But if you keep your goals, priorities and responsibilities aside and run after those problems or those creating those problems, then you will feel lost in life. My priority is my kids. I will focus on them and keep working because only that’s going to help me in the long run. I don’t owe any justification or clarification to anyone because I know what’s good for my children. No one knows it better than me. I know how to keep my kids physically and mentally healthy, give them a better life and take care of them. Logon ke sahi ya galat se meri zindagi nahi chal rahi hai. Meri zindagi mere sahi, galat aur jisme mere bachhon ki bhalai hai, uss se chal rahi hai. I am fully dedicated to my kids and my work, which is why I keep working and forging ahead. If people want to forget their responsibilities and problems and make me the centre of their lives, they are most welcome. But meri zindagi mein aur kisi ke liye koi jagah nahi hai siwaai mere bachhon and meri family ke.”