Last seen in a cameo role in Maddam Sir, in which her track ended abruptly, Shilpa Shinde is set to return to television after over a year with the 14th season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi.

Speaking about the gap between projects, she says, “People often ask me why I haven’t been working. It’s not that I don’t want to work, but I should get an offer that truly excites me. There’s a common belief that once you step away from the screen, you are finished. However, by the grace of God, that hasn’t happened to me. As an actor, I feel fortunate not to have an expiry date, and that’s because I feel content with what I have done and don’t panic. I want to be selective about my work, and for that, patience is key. Some people take up any project that comes their way, but as an artiste, main khud ko khatam kyun karoon by accepting everything offered to me.”

Shilpa seems to attract controversy with almost every project she has taken up. Whether it was her exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai a few years ago, her remark that “the judges should think before commenting” during her stint on Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa in 2022, or her clash with Gulki Joshi during Maddam Sir, she has been in the news.

Ask her about this, and she says, “Controversy ho jaati hai; create nahi kar sakte aap. The problem is that my truth becomes controversial. Regarding Jhalak, I just said what I felt. It was a normal message from my end that snowballed into a controversy. Sachhai kadvi hoti hai, and I feel people are intimidated by me. However, when they work with me, they tell me I am very simple and realize they fell for hearsay. People make assumptions and form perceptions about me without knowing me. That has happened to me a lot.”

Her portrayal of Angoori bhabhi in Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, remains a landmark in her career, and her sudden exit in 2016 led to much speculation. In hindsight, does she regret her departure from the show? 

“I don’t have any regrets and look at it positively. If I had stayed, I would have continued playing the same role and wouldn’t have explored other opportunities. TV aapko wahiin baitha deta hai. Besides, certain characters become so iconic that they can’t be recreated,” she replies.