Shefali Shah: The underappreciated gem of the Hindi film industry

Whenever I think of Indian film actresses who have proven themselves again and again with remarkable performances and haven’t been appreciated the way they deserved to be, the name that pops up immediately is Shefali Shah. 

Talking about appreciation, Delhi Crime, which stars Shefali Shah in the lead role, won the prestigious  International Emmy for Best Drama Series recently and the actress has been ruling the social media since then.  

So, now that you guys are paying attention, let’s have a look at a few of her best acting performances.

 1. Satya 

This crime thriller by RGV reached heights that films of that genre failed to, and became a cult-classic.  While the movie is remembered for Manoj Bajpayee’s Bhikhu Mhatre, the direction, screenplay, music, and the supporting cast, people somehow seem to connect more with the character of Pyari Mhatre,  played by the talented Shefali Shah. She gets into the skin of the innocent Pyaari, effortlessly. Her performance in this groundbreaking film won her critical acclaim and a Filmfare.  

2. Monsoon Wedding

Shefali plays Ria Verma in this Mira Nair multi-starrer.  

Relatives from all around the world come to Verma’s for their daughter’s wedding. While the mood is initially vibrant, Ria gets uncomfortable in Tej’s uncle’s presence. It is revealed that she was molested in her teenage by the same person.  

Shef’s portrayal of the headstrong and bold Ria is very convincing, and she manages to stand out amongst the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Vijay Raaz, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, among others.  

3. Lakshmi

This film focuses on the social issues of human trafficking and child prostitution in some rural parts of  India. Lakshmi, a 14-year-old girl is abducted from her village and is sent to a sex racket which is managed by Jyothi, played by Shah.  

Jyothi is someone who oppresses the ones working for her while also giving emotional support to them in times of need. Several facets of her life are revealed later on in the film which makes her character one to empathize with.  

Shefali packs in a powerful performance and manages to shine yet again.  

4. Dil Dhadakne Do 

Shef plays Neelam Mehra in this Zoya Akhtar directorial. Neelam is an Indian homemaker who sees her husband get friendly but is helpless about it. On the flip side, she preaches the same values to her daughter who is in a troubled marriage, and says “Log kya kahenge” on the topic of divorce.  

She portrays the hard realities of wives, especially of the elite class, convincingly. In a standout scene,  Neelam overstuffs her mouth with Chocolate brownie while sobbing after her husband pesters her for eating and gaining weight. This was the performance that pushed her into the commercial zone. 

5. Once Again 

This is a story of a middle-aged romance between Amar, an actor, and Tara, owner of a small restaurant. They meet by a mere coincidence, but their meetings become regular, their phone calls get longer and this transcends into a romantic relationship.  

The chemistry between Neeraj Kabi and Shefali Shah was praised by critics and audiences alike.  Shef loves to play with silences and her eyes, deep as an ocean, speak more than mere words.  

6. Juice 

This 14-minute long short film is an insight into most middle-class Indian homes. Here, Shefali Shah plays a “housewife” (if you’ve seen the film, you’ll understand as to why I’ve used this term here) who spends time cleaning up the mess her husband and his friends have left behind after the party. 

The whole world has been built around Shefali’s character and she lets her eyes do the talking in most of the scenes. The final scene where Shefali sits in the hall with a glass of juice while she stares at her husband (a brilliant Manish Chaudhari) is a gem. A poignant and career-defining performance by Shef. 

7. Delhi Crime 

Richie Mehta’s Dehli Crime is based on the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape which shook the whole nation. The seven-part series focuses on the untold story of the hard work put in by the cops of Delhi police in nabbing the perpetrators.  

Shefali plays the role of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi whose only aim is to bring those monsters to justice.  Vartika, apart from being a police officer, is also a mother who tries to convince her child as to why India is better than other countries despite such crimes taking place on a regular basis. She makes the transition from a mother, to a wife, to a cop, look easy. 

Shefali delivers a sensational performance that will be remembered for years to come. Tweet

Shefali showcases her versatility by transitioning seamlessly from one role to another, so much so that you can barely see the “Shefali” in her characters. 

Her filmography barely does justice to the amount of talent she possesses and to the hard work that she has put in her career throughout these years.  

While I’ve listed my favourite performances of Shefali, I must say that her best is yet to come.

Abhishek