It is only in the recent past that Indian actress and dubbing artist Shefali Shah has finally gotten the recognition and the roles she deserved ever since she made her film debut with a minor role in the 1995 movie ‘Rangeela’.
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The ‘Human’ actor has been out and about calling out the ills of society. Recently, the actor spoke of facing sexism that too at her home.
During an interview, the ‘Delhi Crime’ actor revealed that she was treated differently and was even criticized for stepping out for long shoots by her in-laws as compared to her husband (film producer and director) Vipul Shah.
“I’m picked on a lot by my family. The thing is, I’m very passionate, and that’ll come across in the way I have a conversation. On a certain level, maybe from your in-laws, but they belong to a different generation,” Zee News quoted her saying.
“Like, I remember, when Vipul goes to shoot, obviously nobody questions, but when I’m shooting continuously, it’s like, ‘Again you have to shoot?’ And I’m like, ‘Are you serious? Did I just get asked that question?’”
“Or, it’s like, ‘You’re shooting for so many hours?’ That’s how it works, how come that question is never asked to your son?” she added.
She goes on to say that when Vipul would do the house chores, her mother-in-law would excuse him from doing so saying that he was a ‘big director’. However, the fact that she, a Bollywood actress, was also doing the same chore was brushed under the carpet.
Recalling the incident, she said:
“I remember, once, Vipul was doing the dishes. My mother-in-law was standing behind him, and none of us wanted her to do it. And I remember her saying, ‘Itna bada director bartan ghas raha hai (Such a big filmmaker is washing dishes).’”
“I thought it was so hilarious. And I’m thinking in my mind, ‘Actress bartan ghas rahi hai, yeh khayal kabhi nahi aayega (But you’ll never hear them say this about an actress)’. He’s a big director, yes, but what does that have to do with the house? He’s a homemaker as much as I am,” she exclaimed.
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People who belong to yesteryear probably won’t realize that they are being sexist or misogynist because that’s how they were trained by the patriarchal society. However, in today’s day and age, such notions are blatantly criticized.
Kudos to Shefali for standing for herself regardless of who she is opposing.