When you have self-worth, nobody will take you for granted'

Shilpa Shetty has repeated her Hunar Salaam so often on the reality show 'India’s Got Talent' where she’s a judge, that it has become associated with her. The actress has become the brand ambassador for an online education initiative which was recently launched in Mumbai. The learning platform seeks to empower women by equipping them with essential skills and fostering financial independence.

Shilpa, who was present at the launch, stressed that it was important for women to be aatma nirbhar by making the most of their skills. She praised the way her mother had brought her up. “I respect my mother, as she is a strong woman and I have learned work ethics from her. I am a homemaker first and then a professional. I am financially independent but this doesn’t mean, I don’t take care of my household. I want my daughter and my son to be independent. I model the values I want them to imbibe,” she said.

The actress emphasised that financial independence was as important for a woman as being responsible for the growth of her child.

Talking about hunar (talent), Shilpa regretted that in India, most women cannot pursue their hobbies because their family commitments take up all their time. She said, “I am an Indian woman, and my mindset and values are those of a middle-class. Whenever I wish to do something for myself, I have to see whether there are any time constraints to that.”

Shilpa also underscored that women need to be involved in decision-making, as that is one of their core strengths. “Women have the talent and skills that can be turned into business opportunities, she said, adding, “only if every woman is educated will she be able to educate and empower the next generation.” She also underlined the importance of self-worth to a woman.

“When you have self-worth, nobody will take you for granted and you will bring up your children differently. You will have more confidence,” said the actress.  
Meanwhile, Shilpa will be debuting on OTT with Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force starring Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. The actress  also has KD-The Devil alongside V. Ravichandran, and Sanjay Dutt, a multi-lingual project in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada Malayalam and Hindi.