Audiences have showed an increasing interest in discovering regional language films after a string of Hindi movies that failed to wow viewers or make money. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, a 47-year-old actor, feels privileged to play a bilingual character in a film as the pan-India phenomenon picks up steam. Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra will be seen in the film Sukhi and web series Indian Police Force. (Photo: Alok Soni)

Shilpa disagrees with the connection when asked about the continuing dispute between Bollywood and regional language movies. “Films in general are having a very difficult time right now,” she explains. Hindi movies cannot be compared to or judged to be superior to movies in other languages. According to my perspective, the public has grown rather picky because so many movies are being produced. Also, the southern fans are somewhat more ardent, so they will go all out, plus [there] the cost of tickets is significantly lower.

She explains why the movie industry has grown so unpredictable by pointing to Pathan, which has amassed more than, say, 1000 crores. “That smashed every record up to this point. You therefore have no idea what will appeal to the public and draw them to the theatres. Wherever you look, actors are giving it their all in an effort to wow the audience. We will make good movies as long as the intention is there, says the actor, who made a comeback in the movies with the upcoming Ruckus 2 (2021) and Useless (2022).

Making an interesting revelation, the mother of two shares she never planned to work so much after taking a break.

“I had planned to produce a movie or web series every two years as a side project. But, the roles for women are both difficult and appealing. I’m still moving slowly. I am very looking forward to warming the audience once more this year since there will be such a diverse range of emotions, characters, and movies, says Shilpa, who will next be seen in the movies happy and Indian Police Force on the web.

But how does the fact that both of his comeback movies received poor reviews from critics and viewers influence him? I don’t even consider it. I only know that each movie has a unique ending. And no one has stated that Shilpa was poorly cast in the movie. I’m good. You have given birth to a child, so I don’t feel that burden or duty about the box office performance. You must now accept your child, no matter who they are or how they are, because they are still your children.

To that end, Shilpa asserts that audiences’ attitudes towards films, their assessments of actors’ performances, and how she responded to criticism in the 1990s have all altered since then.

“I accept criticism with a smile. I’m someone who continually aspires to reinvent myself and become a better actor and person. I also take constructive criticism well and make good use of social media. Some of these keyboard warriors are there because they want to make the rest of us miserable since they are so unhappy in their own lives. Bring it on, I still tell them. I’m willing to take that in stride if it makes you happy. Yet, I always want to pay heed to constructive criticism and seek to improve myself. It has been really difficult over the last three decades, but the biggest high has been continuing to be relevant. I’m content with just that because it crosses a large item off my to-do list,” she concludes.

 

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