Shefali Shah reveals she said no to 'Neerja' and 'Kapoor & Sons': 'If I do this...'

Actor Shefali Shah spoke about refusing two hit films and waiting out for something better. She also recalled being hesitant about doing Dil Dhadakne Do'

In the earlier years of her career, actor Shefali Shah played characters who were much older than her. While today she is known for her versatile roles in 'Delhi Crime', 'Darlings', 'Ajeeb Daastaans' and many more, Shefali Shah was known for playing the role of Akshay Kumar's mother and Amitabh Bachchan's wife in the 2005 film 'Waqt'. Post that, she was missing from the scene and was next seen in the 2015 film 'Dil Dhadakne Do' directed by Zoya Akhtar. 

At a recent session for India Film Project, Shefali Shah was asked about where she was between 2005-2015. She said that she was at home taking care of her children and it was a choice she made. She also said that most of her career was spent waiting for the right project than actually working. "Even when I got 'Dil Dhadakne Do', I actually wasn't sure I wanted to do it.  It was again playing a mother to Ranveer and Priyanka who are younger to me but not much younger to me. I read the script and felt that Neelam Mehra was the second-best role in the film after the dog. I wanted to play Pluto, but I wasn't good-looking enough (laughs). They said just play Neelam Mehra. After the film, Javed (Akhtar) saab, Reema (Kagti) and Zoya (Akhtar) told me that it was the weakest written role on paper and I didn't see it like that," she said adding that for her Neelam Mehra was the strongest character on paper giving the example of cake eating scene in the film.

Shefali further said, "After that I got offered 'Neerja' and I got offered 'Kapoor & Sons'. I chose not to do these films. I declined both with lot of debate. But I just said if I do this then there is going to be no going back from here. I said I'll wait. I did not know what I was waiting for and then OTT happened which was wow. Then Richie Mehta happened and Delhi Crime happened and it was very reassuring to know there was somebody who wanted to put me in the lead at 40, 42. That kind of made me believe there isn't a shelf life for women".

Actor Shefali Shah was last seen in the film 'Three Of Us' with Jaideep Ahlawat where she played the role of a woman who goes back to her roots after being diagnosed with dementia.  

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