SHABIHA NUR KHATOON
The smart, sexy and sassy ‘Sharara Sharara’ girl never fails to grab eyeballs. Having launched her interior design company, Shilpa Shetty’s sis is all set to begin a flourishing new phase of her life
Shamita Shetty, who debuted on the big screen with Mohabbatein and stole many hearts with her amazing performance in Zeher, has also worked in a few Tamil and Telugu films during a nearly 10-year-long career. The actress has participated in television reality shows such as ‘Bigg Boss’ and ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded’. In 2011, after bidding goodbye to Hindi films, she started a new innings as an interior designer. In a telephonic interaction with Sunday POST, the actress dwells on her love for interior designing, her passion for movies, and her equation with sister Shilpa Shetty. Excerpts:
Q Tell us something about your new love – interior designing – and how it all happened?
A It is something which naturally happened in my life. I happened to do the interiors of a night club without any technical knowledge and absolutely loved the process, so I decided that I need to understand the subject better and headed to London to study interiors. After my course I interned with a reputed architect for a year and started my own company.
I completed a course in London and then was on an internship with an architect’s firm in India for a year as British architecture is very different from Indian architecture.
My first assignment was a design of the Royalty night club in Bandra.
Q What urged to take up interior designing?
A While I was waiting for something good to come my way from the entertainment field, I wanted to make better use of my time doing something else I loved, rather than just wasting time doing nothing. Everything just fell into place naturally.
g How was your experience on the ‘Jhalak’ set?
g For me dancing is a passion. I learnt and discovered so much more about myself after I started dancing. I can only look back and be grateful for that wonderful experience. ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ was offered to me earlier too but as I was busy with interiors I could carve out time from my schedule. Subsequently, I sustained a few injuries and thought it was not the right time for me to participate in the show. However, I am happy today to have been a part of the reality show, which is unarguably one of the best dance shows on television. It is a great platform to showcase one’s dancing talent. That was the reason why I accepted the offer to participate in the show.
Q Are you trying to balance the life of an interior designer with that of an actor? Or do you want to solely focus on one of the two roles?
A For the time being, I want to take one step at a time. I am busy with entertainment and looking forward to doing some great work on TV. Interiors is something that needs total dedication which I can’t give right now. But I will get back to it, of course, in time as I have spent so much time and energy studying the subject and I love it.
Q Given a choice what will you prefer: acting or interiors designing?
A I would say acting as it is my first love and I haven’t had the chance to explore it enough.
Q You share a friendly relationship with your sister. Is she your pillar of strength?
A Shilpa is my pillar of strength and there is no doubt about it. She has been the best sister I could have asked for and yes we have always shared a great relationship.
Q Any message you would like to pass across to fans?
A Live everyday of your life to the fullest, forgetting the past and looking forward to the future, and believing in yourself and in your dreams.