Actress Shefali Shah delivered a nuanced yet compelling performance as a repressed housewife in the short film “Juice.”
Inspiration Behind “Juice”
During the IFP 15, Shefali shared an intriguing insight into the creative process behind “Juice,” highlighting how a cue from “Kill Bill” inspired the film’s intense ending. “It’s one of the most powerful films that has been made. And it kind of explains years and years of what our mothers, grandmothers, and still some of us do,” she explained.
Shefali emphasized a pivotal moment—the film’s last scene—where the influence of “Kill Bill” shifted something within her. “Our director, Neeraj Ghaywan, made me hear the soundtrack that was playing in Kill Bill, where she’s in the coffin, and she’s hitting that thing to try getting out. That was the soundtrack,” shared the actress known for her role in “Three of Us.”
Impact of “Delhi Crime”
Further, Shefali reflected on the transformative impact of her acclaimed series, “Delhi Crime.” She pointed out how the show has broken stereotypes, noting, “Some years ago, if somebody had told me that a woman in her mid-40s who is not conventionally good-looking is going to headline a show or play the lead, I would have laughed. And if they had said it’s going to be you, I would have laughed louder.”
She also expressed a deep connection with her character Vartika from “Delhi Crime,” saying, “I was just really lucky that I got to play Vartika, and she is probably a character that’s closest to me — that has given me probably much more than my entire career.”
The latest season, “Delhi Crime 3,” premiered on November 13, focusing on a human trafficking case led by DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, played by Shefali.