Exclusive! Daisy Shah: Dance is a way to express oneself and a stress buster

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 31, 2023)

Her decision to foray into television with Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 surprised many in the film industry. However, Daisy Shah isn’t one to be swayed by others’ opinions.

She says, “I don’t wish to clarify to anybody who is puzzled by my decision to take up a TV reality show. I wanted to be a part of Khatron Ke Khiladi because it allows me to challenge myself and acquire new skills in the process. It also gives me a wider audience to connect with. Most importantly, the experience will help me prepare for a project I’ll begin working on by the end of this year.”

Daisy says, “Besides, I am free for the next two months, so why not?” So, is she open to doing a fiction show on TV as well? “I am not the saas-bahu type at all. I am not cut out for it, I steer clear of drama,” she answers.

‘I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BECOME AN ACTOR, BUT I DID’
Though she has done several films in the South, Daisy came into the spotlight when she was launched in Bollywood as Salman Khan’s heroine in Jai Ho (2014). Despite the common perception that her career would skyrocket after making a big-ticket Hindi film debut, the pace slowed down.

She says, “If you ask me whether my career progressed the way I expected, the answer is no. But I have no complaints. I never thought I would become an actor, but I did. Everyone knows that I come from a dance background, and in gaining a foothold in the acting industry, my journey has only been upwards.”

‘I DON’T CRAVE SCREEN SPACE; I WANT TO PLAY IMPACTFUL CHARACTERS’
Daisy aspires to be associated with unconventional subjects and performance-driven characters. She says, “I want to take up quality work. I don’t crave screen space; I want to play impactful characters. I have no idea why I haven’t been offered any so far. Maybe, I didn’t have the right team or probably wasn’t approached because I am still referred to as a Salman Khan camp girl. I don’t understand the conversations around camps and groups. Salman sir is friendly with everybody and so is Shah Rukh Khan. Since I am Salman sir’s protégée, he ensures I am given the kind of work I should be getting.”