Shilpa Shetty, who will soon be seen on the silver screen as Sukhpreet in Sukhee, tipped to be a light-hearted, slice-of-life story of a housewife regaining her identity as a woman, talks about her take on the film’s theme, and on some life lessons she has imbibed.
Excerpts from an interview:
How sukhee do you feel on the professional front?
I am very sukhee because I feel whatever happens, happens for the good. I am always in a very happy state of mind.
Initially you didn’t want to take up this role?
That’s correct. I named a few other heroines as possibilities. But Sonal (Joshi) and Vikram had no other actor in mind. The story needs someone who can portray the same character 20 years apart. This film seemed to be made for me. I lived this character. I connect with Sukhee.
You are a career woman, mother, wife and daughter, and fitness Freak. What mantra would you share with today’s woman?
Though I do a lot for my family, sometimes I feel I fall short. There is no perfect way to parent, there is no perfect way to be happy. For me, happiness comes from being fit, because it puts you in a better place mentally. Your mind is more powerful than your body. So being both physically and mentally fit helps you perform well in multiple arenas. I do yoga. I watch something on OTT on the way to work – I don’t sit idle even while travelling. I believe in certain energies. I feel the energy of our thoughts and words enters the ambience around us. For instance, there’s that glass of water there. If we are discussing negative things and bitching about things, I believe drinking that water will bring negative energy within me. I go everywhere with a positive attitude and everyone can see it.
How do you remove the negative energies?
Yes, I do feel negative energy from certain people while working with them. I just do my work and leave that place. When I get home, I have a bath with salt water. That’s the only thing that takes all the negative energies out of you.
You have always been a strong woman..., over the years, what strengths have grown in you?
There are many women who think they are doing a great job by being doormats, but that’s their limitation. But this is a disservice to others — if that’s what you model, your sons will start treating their wives as doormats or your daughters will end up becoming doormats as they grow up. We show this through our film Sukhee. You pass on knowledge to your kids. You have to be strong as an individual. My strengths have quadrupled over the years, because of my faith which has suddenly become very strong, with the blessings of the Universe.
How do you deal with unpleasant situations?
Live in the moment. Experiences happen in order to teach you. You should look at them as learning. You should never lose faith. I am a devotee of Sai Baba, so shradha (belief) and saburi (patience) are what I adhere to. I am of the opinion that your actions in the time of your waiting determine the person you are. It all depends on how you deal with the bad times in your life. In difficult times you have to have faith. Even if the worst happens in my life, I feel it has happened for a great reason.
