Shilpa Shetty: There are many Sukhees out there, I hope they connect with this film and find strength

Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra.

That Shilpa Shetty Kundra can pull off the role of a sultry, glamorous woman as well as a simple, underappreciated, middle-aged housewife effortlessly, is showcased in her latest outing Sukhee. Debutante director Sonal Joshi's attempt to take a not-so-new idea and weave it into a dramedy that moves you, makes you laugh and also makes you shed a tear or two, is applause worthy. At a special premier show held ahead of the film release on Friday, Shilpa Shetty talks about the film, her role as the titular Sukhee, the way the character mirrors the psyche of middle-class married women and mothers, her growing up years and more. Excerpts from an interview:

Sukhee is a fun, touching, relatable film. How are you feeling?

There is a dichotomy of emotions. I feel so excited, proud and so fortunate. I feel all these emotions and many more actually! When I was promoting Sukhee in Delhi, this RJ said, ‘I feel maine apne mummy ke saath bahut ghalat kiya hai’. Just the fact he felt that way is bang on. Sukhee’s mission accomplished! As an actor I play a part and maybe through my film if I can convey something to my audiences while they are being entertained, there is no greater high than that. Not too many films are able to do that.

Thirty years of being in the film industry with a vast range of experiences, playing a multitude of characters. What made you say yes to playing a role like Sukhee?

In the three decades of my career, I have come to really believe that characters choose you and you don’t choose the role. There was a point when I was offered the film and I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to do it because I wasn’t in the right mind space then. And today I’m so happy that I ended up doing it and the makers waited and Sonal the director, believed in me and didn’t approach anyone else.

I felt that Sukhee’s was a story that needs to be told, it’s a story of all our lives. It’s not about which strata you belong to, when you are a woman in India, we are conditioned in a certain way. We want to say that we are in this egalitarian world and women are achieving everything, but when it comes to stats everything is still the same. I feel films are powerful and can play a catalyst in people’s lives. This one is one of those films that will really make women resonate with Sukhee and maybe give them some kind of direction when it comes to self-love and self-respect. Because if you cannot respect yourself, no one else will. It has to be commanded, can’t be demanded.

I am not a bra-burning feminist who says leave your husbands and go on a girl’s holiday and be irresponsible. No. We are saying learn how to do it right. If you are unhappy, it will get to you. And if we homemakers are going to be unhappy, how can we bring happiness to our families?

What were you like in school?

I was quite an average student, and had my group of friends. But we are talking about 30 years ago! Things were different then, people were different, and those days we kids listened to our parents! I have an 11-year-old who is going on 30 and does not listen to me! It’s just a different time. I had my best friend who I can talk to about anything. I feel it is so important to have friends like this, to have one person who can be your sounding board and can tell you the truth without feeling that you are going to be judging her. We are leading fast-paced lives and I feel it is crucial to unwind and to reconnect with your past. That smile on your face when you are among people who know the real you, is precious. Recently, I was in Chembur for an event, and I actually took some time out to visit my school. And my manager Urmi, who has seen me daily and worked with me for years, said ‘You have a very different smile on you. This isn’t how you usually are!’

Tell us about some memories of your student life. Friends who knew the real Shilpa and what you shared with them.

I became an actress at 17. That’s the time when you make your core friends at school. I didn’t have the opportunity to form a circle or group. But one of my oldest friends is still in touch. Now she is a single mom in Bangalore, we reconnected, and we talked about the time we went to college and had our chaat moments, and shared a drink!

There is a sequence in the film where your friends ask you to abuse. And you’ve said earlier you don’t abuse. How did that go?

It was tough when we shot that sequence and yes, I do not use those words. I told my director, ‘Sonal, let's just have one take’. Saying abusive words out loud wasn’t easy. You have to say it in a convincing way, to make it part of your personality. I have actor friends who abuse all the time, and in my head, I was like that’s how I must be to pull this off!

When you first heard the story what was your initial reaction?

For Sonal who had absolute conviction about Sukhee, this film is an ode to her mum who has led this same life for a long time. At first, I had felt it was a little farfetched, of course we love unconditionally and do things selflessly, as women, but I was like, Sonal, this is a tad much babe, don’t you think we need to tone it down?’ and she then told me, ‘My mum has lived this life for years. I am not exaggerating at all’.

I knew then that I wanted to portray Sukhee with absolute honesty because there actually are so many Sukhees out there and I hope they all connect with this film. I hope they find strength.

You have used words like beparwah in the film as your motto. Why?

Beparwah was not about being irresponsible, but it was about not caring what people thought about you. Your decisions cannot be based on what other people and your neighbours think.