Top News

The queen of controversies , Shilpa Shinde , who was in Lucknow a while back, has found herself back in the spotlight amid recent controversies. In an exclusive conversation with us, the actress, who has recently entered the show Lock Upp Season 2, opened up about her marriage plans and explained why OTT remains off the table for her right now. Excerpts...

You have visited Lucknow several times. What are your memories of the city and what do you enjoy most about being here?
I have been to Lucknow many times. Lucknow is a city that stands out in many ways. The first thing that comes to mind is the language. The Urdu-Hindi blend and the tone people use is beautiful. It is something to learn from, that elegance of expression. Then of course there is the chikankari . It is classy and has its own distinctive touch. And another big attraction is the food. I am a big foodie. So when we came here, the first thing we thought about was Tunde kebabs.

You are known for being very straightforward. How difficult is it to survive in this industry with that approach?
For women, especially actresses, it is a very difficult journey in the industry. There are many roadblocks. If you are not married or if you are the sole person responsible for earning, you constantly think about your livelihood. So sometimes the thought comes to mind that being strong-headed may create problems. But when you are genuine, things become easier in another way. I have always believed in two things: I did not do anything wrong, and if I have not done anything wrong then nothing wrong will ultimately happen to me.




Some people feel that even when you say the right thing, it can sound harsh. Have you ever thought of softening your approach?
No. That will not happen. People say I get into controversies, but the truth is that I do not go looking for trouble. Trouble comes to me (laughs). Many a times the correct thing can sound rude. But that is also part of someone’s nature. You cannot pretend all the time. If I try to pretend or sugar-coat things, people will immediately see that I am not being genuine. Even I would not feel comfortable doing that. Pretending to soften everything does not come naturally to me.

So, does that straightforwardness ever isolate you from people?
There have been situations where someone misunderstood me and only realised years later that what I had said was actually right. I do not have many friends and I do not regret that. Sometimes it is better to filter people out of your life.

You often say you are happy being single. Do you still believe in marriage?
I am happy. But it is not that I completely reject the idea of marriage. I have always believed that marriage is not just between two people; it is between two families. Compatibility and understanding are very important. Even in families, there are disagreements, but the intention is to stay together and make things work. If someone brings a proposal, I would think about it. It is not that I have completely closed the door. But I am not desperate for marriage, love, or a partner. Right now I am comfortable with myself and with the life I am living. Also, as far as compatibility with someone is concerned, mera toh sabke saath nahi jamta toh uske saath kahan se jamega? (laughs)

Are you exploring opportunities on OTT platforms as well?
It is difficult to balance OTT projects while working on television. I did receive a few offers. However, many of them required scenes that were bold or intimate in a particular way. I am not comfortable with how they wanted to shoot those scenes. If something is shot aesthetically and fits the story, that is different. But in some cases the demand was very specific because it was for certain well-known platforms, and they wanted to present it in a particular style. That was not something I felt comfortable doing, so I chose not to pursue those projects.

— With inputs by Manas Mishra