Three decades into the spotlight, Shilpa Shetty Kundra continues to juggle multiple roles — actor, entrepreneur, television personality and mother. In a conversation with us, the actress talks about how society places too much emphasis on age, raising children in the digital era and the woman she credits for shaping her outlook on life, her mother.

At a time when discussions around ageing, beauty standards and relevance continue to dominate narratives around women, especially in showbiz, Shilpa has a simple perspective. As she prepares to turn 51, she says, “I think too much importance is given to age in this country. When you watch Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, are you thinking about her age? When you watch Jennifer Lopez perform on stage, are you thinking about her age? No! For me, it’s not about how you choose to age; it’s about how you choose to live. I choose to give my body and mind discipline and, along with care and time – that reflects outwardly.”

Few actors have lived through the kind of scrutiny that Shilpa has over the years. Every day, a new controversy around her husband, Raj Kundra, makes headlines. Yet, she has consistently managed to appear composed in public — something she attributes not to strength alone, but discipline.

She says, “We all go through highs and lows in life. Yes, I’m also an actor, even if something is troubling me personally, I’m not being paid to show that on my face while I’m working. That is reserved for my private space and for the people who are my safe space. My attitude has always been very positive. If I step out for work, I want to do it to the best of my ability, regardless of what’s happening in my personal life. That work ethic comes from my parents. Both of them worked extremely hard and we only really saw them on weekends because they were constantly working for us.”

She adds, “I have absolutely been an overthinker. Yoga changed my life completely. It changed the way I think. Human beings constantly overthink. We’re always worrying about what if this happens next week or next month. And then half the things we spend months worrying about never even happen. I would waste so much time fretting. Yoga just made me more mindful and aware.”

Shilpa is soon going to be seen in a reality show Zee 5's Maa Hai Na, so naturally the conversation drifts towards motherhood — both as a daughter and now as a parent.

Talking about her bond with her mother, she says, “Every day I thank God for having her in my life. Even back in the day, people knew that if they wanted to mess with me, they’d have to deal with my mom first. She was my original momager. Even if professionally, I had managers, the rules were set by my mother. Shamita and I are both strong-willed because we’ve inherited that strength from her. She was a working woman who balanced family and career beautifully, and that was incredibly inspiring to watch while growing up.”

While she speaks lovingly about the simplicity of her own childhood, Shilpa admits parenting today comes with a completely different set of realities. Reflecting on raising children in the digital age, she says, “You can’t compare the current times we are in with the era we grew up in. We grew up very simply. If we needed information, we went and asked our parents. Today, kids have Google and AI. It’s fascinating and scary at the same time because this generation is very aware. Their perception and opinions are far more evolved than what we were at that age. My son is 14, and he can genuinely have conversations on a variety of topics and hold his own. The biggest difference I see is that we as parents, today give our children the space to have opinions. Back then, if we had opinions, our parents would just say, ‘We don’t care. Do what we say.’ And somehow that worked too.”

It takes an army to get Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s fur babies to pose with her. Just when her dog, Truffle, finally gives in and settles in her lap, her cat Simmba decides to take off! As the actor sits with us for a special National Pet Day shoot, she recalls how Truffle entered their lives.

“We surprised Viaan (her son) on his 10th birthday with a miniature poodle. She is everything I manifested in a pet. She is disciplined and fitness conscious like me. In the morning, she always needs her badams,” the Indian Police Force actor tells us, adding, “She’s quite human-like, but human beings don’t love as unconditionally.”

Kundra has had furry companions since she was a teenager. “Initially, my father didn’t want a pet. I remember Shamita (Shetty, sister-actor) was so fond of animals that we would sneak in abandoned dogs, storks and all kinds of little creatures. Once, our father found three kittens in the attic and threatened us by saying, ‘Either the pet or me’. My mother, Shamita and I just looked at each other and said, ‘The pet!’ That’s something we laugh about till date,” the 48-year-old shares, right before her daughter Samisha chimes in to keep Truffle in check.

“Behave, Truffle, otherwise I won’t talk to you,” the four-year-old says, and we all burst out laughing!

The actor believes it’s impossible to not get attached to these precious furballs. “My father, who didn’t even like animals that much, cried the most when we lost our first pet. He even organized a send-off ceremony. That’s just how pets are; they end up creating that space in your life,” she wraps up.

Actor Shamita Shetty has spent over 20 years in the industry, but often wonders why she is not considered for more projects. “There isn’t that much [work] coming my way. I’m hoping that after my last film, The Tenant, things will change and I don’t need to wait another two years for a project,” she says.

The reason for this dearth of work, the 44-year-old says, is a “mystery” to her. “I’m hoping that people see some talent in me and give me something nice in the future, because I am very greedy for work. As an artiste, I feel I haven’t explored my talent enough. There is so much that I would like to do,” Shetty tells us.

The sister of actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Shetty made her Bollywood debut with Mohabbatein in 2000. She went on to do films such as Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Zeher (2005) and Cash (2007). But, despite a successful debut, her film career failed to take off as expected.

“I have been around for around 20 years. The journey has not been easy. Sometimes it’s not just about the money, it’s also about an artiste being able to express their creativity. It has been very frustrating for me to not be able to do that enough. I’ve barely had any film releases,” she rues.

The actor, who was also a part of the web show Black Widows (2020), says the challenges she faced in life so far have made her a stronger person. And going forward, she hopes things will change for the better.

“I believe in myself and in my talent. I have hope. If I didn’t have hope, I wouldn’t keep going. With every film, I’ve learned how much I love performing. It’s a different high for me,” Shetty signs off.

Recently, several pictures surfaced online of actors Shamita Shetty and Aamir Ali, which fuelled rumours about them having found love in each other. But soon, the two took to social media to quash all such claims and set the record straight.

“It was so stupid,” Shetty tells us, sharing what pushed her to address the rumour: “This time, it wasn’t just about me. There was somebody else involved. It is stupid to give a name to friendship. Sometimes, it is unbelievable how people think.”

The constant glare, the lack of privacy and the judgements women face almost daily are what form the crux of her latest outing, The Tenant.

“Do I face constant judgement? Yes. Because I’m single and unmarried? Yes. Even on my social media, there are so many people saying, ‘You are of a certain age, get married’. Some ask when I am getting married, some say, ‘You are starting to look old’. It’s like I was born just to get married! That’s not the only thing a woman needs to think about. If she doesn’t want to get married, it is fine. Even if she is successful, there will still be a bunch of people who will judge her because she’s not married. It’s not like her life is not complete... This thought is so annoying,” asserts the 44-year-old.

How does she deal with the constant scrutiny as someone in the public eye? “That comes with being a celebrity. I have always been a very private person. Unfortunately, after my Bigg Boss stint, people saw everything that was going on in my life for six months,” says Shetty, who broke up with co-contestant, actor Raqesh Bapat a few months ago and announced the same on social media.

“Now, people think they need to and deserve to know more about what’s happening in my life. But, every individual has a right to control the scene,” she concludes.

Actors Raqesh Bapat and Shamita Shetty, referred to as #ShaRa by fans, officially announced their breakup last week, after months of speculation. Bapat’s ex-wife, actor Ridhi Dogra, also put up a post stating how she has been receiving hate for the split. And Bapat is “shocked” by the entire episode: “I don’t know why people think this (that Dogra is the reason behind his breakup). She has been getting crap for no reason. And it hurts me when somebody talks this way to a dear person of mine. No third person can break a relationship. It is only up to the two people in the relationship.”

Calling his current equation with Shetty “great”, Bapat mentions that they will “always be cordial”. He adds, “It was one of the most beautiful phases of my life... And we realized not all people are the same in terms of their nature, how they look at life. If something doesn’t work out, it’s not necessary to be spiteful.”

The Qubool Hai actor admits that the “pressure” from their fandom did affect their relationship. “It’s not just two people who were involved, there’s a family of fans who are involved in it. I think this was like a marriage of two people with respect to the fans. So, it was our responsibility to not hurt them and tell them that it is not working out, and that we appreciate the love they gave us,” Bapat tells us.

The 43-year-old also confesses that the two “dealt with it (the breakup) very maturely.” “There was no crying or sobbing. It was just two people, who loved each other, taking a decision that’s best for each other,” he concludes.

Shamita Shetty has been in the public eye since her participation in the reality show Bigg Boss. The actor’s bond with co-contestant and rumoured beau, actor Raqesh Bapat, became the talk of the town. From rumours about their break-up to them planning to get married, the duo has been grabbing eyeballs ever since the show ended three months ago.

When asked whether so much attention affects her relationship with Bapat, the Black Widows actor says, “Unfortunately, my entire relationship has been out there because we were on a public platform for quite some time. We did create a certain amount of fan following, and our fans love to see us together. But yes, it’s (the excessive attention and speculations) tough. It puts a lot of pressure on two people in a relationship, because you feel like you are constantly explaining yourself.”

Shetty says that besides them, their families are also affected by the rumours: “There is a lot of judgment and trolling that our families go through, too. I speak for his family and I don’t like it. I wish people respect the fact that everyone has a heart.”

But, the 43-year-old adds that at the end of the day, you have to find a way to not be impacted by negativity around you. “We (Raqesh and I) have consciously made an effort to not let these things (speculations about our personal life) affect us. A relationship is about two people. It can’t be about the rest of the world and what they think about you. Luckily, we both are very secure people,” says Shetty.

Rumours are rife that actors Raqesh Bapat and Shamita Shetty, who are currently dating, are on the verge of a break-up. But as per Bapat, what they have is “solid”. He says, “We are in a happy zone; she is a dear friend. Friendship has to be so strong that nothing else can affect it.”

Ask about their relationship and he quickly retorts, “I wouldn’t name it relationship. It’s a bond. We just give names to things. It’s like two people enjoying the space with each other. I respect Shamita. She is a pure soul.”

The two have been quite vocal about their relationship since they got out of a reality show last year, but Bapat seems in no mood to talk much about it now: “I don’t want to talk about it. If there is any kind of progression, people will get to know,” he says.

While he doesn’t openly address their current relationship status, he goes on to quash the break-up rumours: “I don’t understand where these rumours come from. There are people who are speculating and it’s good for them; that’s how the industry works. It’s gossip.”

Reportedly, it was his decision to continue to stay in Pune, his hometown, which led to friction between him and Shetty. “Beyond work, I don’t like hanging around in Mumbai,”

Bapat shares, clarifying that he and Shetty “don’t speak about these things”. In an earlier interview, Bapat had said that he doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage anymore. But now, he calls it a “phase”: “I was in a zone when I said that. I don’t know what will happen in the future. I don’t want to preempt things.”

Post their Bigg Boss 15 stint, Raqesh Bapat and Shamita Shetty have become one of the most-talkedabout couples in showbiz. In an exclusive chat, the actor-couple, who recently celebrated their first Valentine’s Day together, spoke about finding love. Excerpts from a chat:

Shamita: To be honest, when we entered the house, we didn’t expect to find someone. We were not even looking to get into any relationship. But as we got to know each other, we understood that we wanted to explore something solid outside the house, too. Once we came out, we realised that we

really wanted to take this forward, and got to know each other better.

Raqesh: She came across as a beautiful soul. That is when I knew that this was something I would really like to explore. Probably, she is someone I wanted to be with as a partner and as a friend.

Shamita: Raqesh is a great guy. He is someone who has a very good understanding of life. He is easy to be with, which is definitely an important factor for me. So far, we are going good, and I would want to leave it at that right now.

Raqesh: For me, she is not Shamita Shetty; she is an individual. I feel a sense of substance in her and she is someone who is very clear about her thoughts. She is a loyalist and she will stand by you, no matter what.

Shamita: Apart from being grounded, Raqesh is someone who I can talk to about anything. He is a very good listener and we don’t find that in a lot of men. I feel comfortable enough to share anything with him. It is a very good quality to have and it makes me feel secure.

Raqesh: She said it correctly that we can talk to each other about anything. She is a great friend to me. We are not a mushy couple, but we communicate to make our foundation strong. I can talk to her without any filter.

Shamita: I react faster than Raqesh and it bothers me sometimes. He has his own way of handling things. So, I think that is where we have a little bit of conflict, but I feel with time it will be okay. He still has to know me a lot. We are two different people but rarely, on a few basic points, do we clash. I have got into a relationship after a very long time, so I am not used to having a person around.

Raqesh: Shamita likes to keep things in order. By mistake, if I put my wet feet on the bathroom mat, even if I cannot see a mark, she can see it! I have to really be on guard. I have been living alone for quite some time and I am messy. But yes, with time, it will be fine.

Shamita: His smile and dimple melt my heart.

Raqesh: She is beautiful inside-out. Her eyes are so expressive that without saying anything, she says a lot.

Bigg Boss 15 winner, Tejasswi Prakash, has been drawing mixed reactions over her victory. Several celebrities expressed shock over her lifting the BB trophy and not Pratik Sehajpal. However, instead of focusing on what naysayers have to say, Tejasswi wants to revel in the victory. In a chat, the actress takes us through her journey on the show, her volatile equation with Shamita Shetty and the love of her life, Karan Kundrra. Excerpts:

When I saw the video of my journey on the show, I realised that there were a lot of times when people were strategizing against me. Till the end and even when I was on stage, nobody in the studio wanted me to win. However, Ganpati bappa and my followers had other plans. I will always believe that jiske saath koi nahi hota uske saath khuda hota hai.

I believe that I should trust the format of the show and desh ki janta ka pyaar that I am receiving. It doesn’t look fake to me. It is evident that I got more votes. Those doubting this season’s result should cry foul over the previous seasons’ results, too. Also, why should I expect anyone to appreciate my victory? My family and I should be happy that I won and my fans should be happy that their hard work paid off. Why should my haters be happy that I won? My haters will obviously be sad about my victory. They have the right to be sad. Not everyone is going to love me and I’m fine with that. I am not an ice cream…I am human.

No offence to anyone, but I think I was offered Naagin because I was doing a good job on BB. I would have been offered Naagin even if I hadn’t won BB. Meri jeet meri jeet hai, mujhe Naagin mila hai isliye mujhe jitaaya nahi hai. That’s not how it works. Nothing can take away from my win on BB. Why it is so difficult for people to believe that there is a person who can bag a show like Naagin and can also be a brilliant player? People saw me as a strong contender inside the house from the beginning.

I wanted the final moment of lifting the trophy to be between Karan and me. It would have been the best moment. So, it (Karan coming third) was a shock because he had a beautiful journey on the show. Not that Pratik didn’t play well. Karan was always sure that if it was between him and me, I was going to win. So, he is obviously very happy that trophy finally ghar hi aayi. Having said that, it is Karan Kundrra and he is a lot more than just that last moment we missed out on.

I didn’t call her aunty... it was more like slang. Why would I do that to another woman? She doesn’t even look like an aunty. She is so hot. I don’t know about the boys, but I checked her out. I would take tips from her on diet and workout regime. I have had a beautiful journey inside the house and people were never able to find anything against me. I made one slight mistake in the last week and people want to keep highlighting it. I did apologize to Shamita multiple times. I don’t know what else is expected from me. A lot of shaming was done by people on the OTT version of the reality show. But I don’t wish to bring that up or talk about it. I want to talk about how good a fight I gave on the show while everybody else is busy finding flaws in me. I should be busy finding good things in myself.

I am very possessive and I am proud of it. In fact, Karan and I are shamelessly possessive. I am sure that Karan will agree. We don’t have an issue with it nor should anybody else.

Oh God, Krish is not my boyfriend and neither is Yogita Karan’s girlfriend. She is a very sweet girl. Krish and I are family friends and have known each other since childhood.

It’s not his plan. A pandit told him something. I don’t know what the scene is, but I always took it as a joke. We have just come out of the house, and there is so much to talk about.

The reality show, Bigg Boss, has often witnessed age-shaming with a younger contestant passing comments on an older participant’s age. This time Tejasswi Prakash called Shamita Shetty aunty. During a task, Shamita was asked to give Karan Kundrra a massage and while doing that, Tejasswi pulled Shamita forcefully to stop her. She later commented, “Aunty uspe bhi chad gayi.” She has drawn a lot of flak for this comment.

Kashmera Shah, an ex-contestant and an avid watcher of Bigg Boss, is also furious with Tejasswi for this. She says, “I had been supporting Tejasswi, but after this comment, I stopped. I don’t understand why youngsters these days age-shame people. They should respect them because they have the experience and have worked longer. Like in this case, Shamita is an actress who has worked hard to reach where she has today.”

She further adds, “I feel these girls who are 25 or 27 need to understand that they, too, will reach our age. Today, Shamita is 40 and Tejasswi is 27. But there will be a day when Tejasswi will be 40, and someone who’s 27 will call her aunty. She needs to understand that.”

Kashmera, too, faced age-shaming last season when contestant Nikki Tamboli said, “Apni umar ka lihaaz karo.”

Talking about that incident, Kashmera says, “The day Nikki age-shamed me, I felt there was too much darkness within her. Someone as young as her, who’s trying to make a space in the industry, should know how difficult it is for a woman to make a name for herself. I have done that and there are many actresses who are going strong at the age of 40 and 50. We are working and will keep working till we are 70 or 80. But these youngsters need to understand that and respect our work. At her age, I had already made my name and people still remember me for it. When she commented on my age, I cried because I was shaken up. A woman age-shaming another woman is really heart-breaking for me.”

In Bigg Boss, over the years, age-shaming has become rampant. Sidharth Shukla, Eijaz Khan, Sonali Phogat and Shefali Jariwala were among the other contestants who were also age-shamed on the show.

Rashami Desai’s personal life was much in focus during Bigg Boss 13, two years ago. She has entered the house again as a wild card contestant in Bigg Boss Season 15. Before entering the house, the actress had a quick chat with us on her game plan, how tough it is to enter a show mid-way and if she is open to finding love. Excerpts:

During my season (Bigg Boss 13), we used to fight a lot, just like the present lot of contestants, but we weren’t disrespectful towards each other the way these contestants are. We would mostly fight during tasks, and task ke baad bhi agar hamari fights hoti thi toh there would be proper reasons for it. I sometimes feel that the current contestants take out too many personal grudges on the show.

Everyone has been asking me this. I am going in hoping to win. It is rare that a wild card entry has won the show, but I hope it happens. I don’t know how the audience is going to accept me in the middle of the show. Let’s see.

I have been very close to Tejasswi Prakash; we have been friends outside the house. But when you are inside, that too as a contestant, the situation becomes different. I also like the way Shamita Shetty communicates with people inside the house. I like Neha Bhasin, too. But jab aap season ke beech mein enter karte ho toh some people tend to demean you. Neha ne usko bahut achhe se handle kiya hai.

I am not saying I am not open to finding love. However, that comfort with someone is very difficult to find because of my experiences in life. Jab jab jo jo hona hoga tab tab so so hoga. Jab aap kisi cheez ke liye na karte ho toh kudrat aap ke saath khelti hai, so it is better ki woh karo jo kudrat karwaye. I am not looking for love, but if it happens automatically, I will go with the flow.

Neha Bhasin, who was recently seen in Bigg Boss OTT (BB OTT), has been following Bigg Boss 15 (BB 15). She even put up a post on social media recently supporting Shamita Shetty and Pratik Sehajpal, her BB OTT co-contestants. Neha said, “I see the show in bits and pieces, and sometimes my fan pages tag me on some things. I am in touch with Shamita’s mother, too. I keep myself updated on what's happening in Bigg Boss 15.”

Referring to the age-shaming that seems to be rampant on the show, the singer said, “Firstly, we are told that we are all equal in the show. So, it shouldn’t matter whether a person is 20 or 40. But people’s ages are regularly brought up. I feel that age shaming happens more to women than men. I saw Shamita getting age shamed on BB OTT. People would call her chachi and say that she was old enough to be their mother. In BB 15, she was called aunty by Karan Kundrra. There are others who say such things as well.”

Neha added, “I don’t appreciate such ageshaming comments, which is why I addressed the issue on my social media handle. Even when I had come out of the BB OTT house, I was called aunty, daadi, buddhi, tharki, etc. Why would anyone use such words to age shame me? When we were kids, we would address our elders as uncle and aunty out of respect.”

So, what did she think of Pratik’s game on the show? “Everyone told me that Pratik mellowed down in BB OTT because of me, so I guess audiences should enjoy watching him being aggressive on BB 15. I suppose people want to see him that way. Having said that, I also feel that he is getting bullied on the show currently. BB OTT contestants were sent as troublemakers (sankat) for the new contestants living in a jungle set-up. So, he’s just doing his job. But one against 13 people is a little unfair. I do feel bad for him, but in BB, one has to play on the front foot, especially when everyone is against them,” she said.

For those unversed, Shamita and Pratik had a tiff on BB 15 given their different ways of handling situations. Neha, who is a friend to both, said, “Even in BB OTT, they didn’t get along at the beginning. Later, when I was Pratik’s connection, they started talking. I was the common link, which is why they were somehow cordial to each other. I don’t think they ever got along then as well, and their differences now don’t surprise me at all. I also feel that the new contestants are playing Shamita and she hasn’t realised that yet.”

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Winner of Bigg Boss 13, late Sidharth Shukla may have been the most popular contestant, but even he was age-shamed. Mahira Sharma, after a fight with Sidharth, called him ‘buddha’. She received serious backlash for her comment.

In season 14, Eijaz was age-shamed. On one occasion, during a task, Rahul Vaidya commented on his age saying, “Bhaago mat, umar ke liye achcha nahi hai (Don't run, it’s not good for your age).”

Bigg Boss 14 contestant Sonali Phogat, who was also age-shamed on the show, later in an interview, said, “I don’t understand this. If I have aged, does that mean I can’t work in the industry?”

A recent cosy picture shared by actor Raqesh Bapat made waves, as everyone assumed it was him making his romance with actor Shamita Shetty Instagram official. However, Bapat clarifies that there is nothing to confirm just yet.

Prod him further if there’s a formal announcement coming anytime soon and he exclaims, “Oh my God, no way! Right now, there’s nothing. It’s a very good bond, and we’re cherishing that. We don’t want to put ourselves under any pressure... If things have to happen, let them happen organically. If there’s anything in the future, we’re not going to be quiet about it.”

Bapat and Shetty came close after they recently participated in an OTT reality show, and fans wondered if Cupid had struck. Soon after, a nickname, #ShaRa, was coined for the two. Their appearances together have also added fuel to the fire, especially when Bapat shared a picture holding Shetty’s hand on a dinner date, along with a heart emoji.

“The dinner was just to celebrate our bond together. What’s the confirmation? I don’t understand,” he quips, and continues, “We were just sitting in a restaurant. It was a good ambience. We had planned to go out for dinner someday, and we did. I just captured the moment.”

Opening up about his “bond” with Shetty, the Qubool Hai actor shares, “There’s a lot of understanding and mutual respect. We care for each other. We are each other’s support system and that’s what’s needed in any bond. When we were inside the [reality show’s] house, we didn’t think we were doing something deliberately. It just happened. You can’t cheat that.”

Last year ended on a high note for Shamita Shetty, who enthralled viewers not just with the crime drama Black Widows, but also with her glamorous looks. She admits she took a lot of care as her character needed to look distinctly different from others. On her personal style and she says, “My character needed to look hot and sexy but my personal style isn’t that at all. I am simple in my personal life and I hate wearing makeup. I am comfortable in shorts and a loose t-shirt. What you see on screen is unlike what I am in real life. People were kind with their comments on my look.”

Since her debut with Mohabbatein (2000), Shetty has had a chequered career. She feels she has grown as a person and grateful for her career graph. Talking about the experiments in terms of content among actors and writers due to the OTT boom, the actor, who has a film Tenant lined up, states, “I am happy to see so many actors stand out due to their performances on OTT and then to know, they have been acting for 10 or 15 years. OTT focuses on good actors and content, rather than popular faces, which is great for all actors, including me.”

At 42, what does she think about romance and marriage? “I would love to get married but don’t know where my guy is (laughs). He is somewhere and needs to find me. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that’s probably why I get into trouble always but I believe in love. But look around us and what is happening to the world, marriages and society. It is scary. If I want to marry someone, I need to be sure that I can be with that person for the rest of my life. There is no surety but I haven’t come across anyone who I see myself spending my life with.”

Shamita Shetty has had a chequered career. But the actor, who’s been appreciated for her performance in the recent web show Black Widows, has no regrets. “I’ve been through ups and downs, and it has made me who I am today. I’m thankful for the life I have. Most of all, to be working even after 20 years is big deal. I’ve not done as much work as I would’ve liked to, but at least I’m given the opportunity to be a part of the film industry, and I’m grateful for that… The industry can be a fake world, and you can lose yourself here, if you are not careful,” says the Zeher (2005) actor, who turns 42 today.

How’s she ringing in her special day? “Now, I enjoy peace and quiet... I remember my 40th birthday celebration was a surprise party. Shilpa (Shetty Kundra; sister) and Raj (Kundra; brother-in-law) whisked me away to Phuket, Thailand. It was just so wonderful,” she reminisces.

Shetty, who has a film, Tenant, lined up, says that 2020 was good for her career wise, but more importantly, it helped her realise what matters. “When you’re trapped alone at home, no matter how much money or fancy stuff you have, nothing matters. It makes you think what’s important. I made a few changes, tried to get rid of negativity. Though I live alone, luckily, I had family close by and I spent quality time with them,” she says, adding, “I was grateful that I got to work on a show during the pandemic. We followed all the Coronavirus protocols while shooting in Kolkata.”

Her career in films did not pan out the way she had imagined, but Shamita Shetty has no regrets. She is enjoying having shifted gears to digital entertainment. "Everything happens at the right time. At that time, I made the best of what came my way. It probably didn't do much [for my career], but I am happy with the digital wave because there is so much more for us to do," she begins.

Along with Mona Singh and Swastika Mukherjee, the actor headlines the latest Zee5 web series, Black Widows. The Birsa Dasgupta-directed show revolves around three women who kill their respective husbands after suffering years of abuse. "Initially, I didn't understand why Kavita [her character] was the way she was. I kept wondering how I will play the character when I am not convinced. But as the story progressed, I realised there were parts I could relate to. The director and I worked on her backstory to understand why Kavita was so insecure — she has never been accepted, and hence, seeks love and acceptance."

Through its three protagonists, the show delves into the subject of domestic violence. "A lot of people stay in abusive marriages for the wrong reasons. Here, the three women manage to claim power in their relationship. We are not advocating murder, but it symbolises something bigger. For all the people who are in abusive marriages, I would urge them to talk about it and reach out for help because that will give them strength."