‘I’m really not here to give gyaan’: Shefali Shah on her new memoir

In her first book, The Audacity of Being: A Sort of Memoir, actress Shefali Shah, 53, recounts her life and career journey with a refreshing sense of humor and self-deprecation. The Delhi Crime actress shares an unfiltered, honest account of her evolution over three decades in the industry, acknowledging her mistakes, failures, and fears along the way.

Shah emphasizes that her memoir is not a meticulously crafted version of herself, but rather a genuine, authentic portrayal of a person who continues to grow and change. Despite not presenting a chronological narrative, readers can still trace her personal and professional evolution, as each stage of her life is reflected in the book.

While the book does not aim to showcase her progress or highlight achievements, Shah does discuss the mistakes she has made and the lessons she has learned from them. She encourages readers to take away something from her experiences, as her goal is to provide an honest, witty, and easy-to-read memoir.

The actor shares that playing Vartika in Delhi Crime (2019) was a standout role for her because the director, Richie Mehta, insisted on making the character as raw and authentic as possible. Shah aimed to capture Vartika's true essence and believes that her performance allowed the audience to see her as a real person rather than just an actor playing a role.

Shah also touches upon the importance of mothers and daughters connecting with her work, as they may find relevance in her portrayal of various life stages. She acknowledges that becoming redundant in today's ever-changing landscape is a possibility, but she remains committed to moving forward and avoiding complacency.