Bold Act

When Shilpa Shukla was offered the role in Ajay Bahl’s film BA Pass based on a short story from the anthology Delhi Noir,she was both overwhelmed and apprehensive. The movie based on Mohan Sikka’s short story,Railway Aunty,narrates the story of Sarika,the wife of a highly-placed government officer,who seduces her younger neighbour,Mukesh. “When I read the script,I wanted to go ahead with it. But I asked my mother,if I will be disowned by her,” she says. Her mother,however,had full faith in her and Shukla shed her inhibitions for this role.

Shukla’s belief has now strengthened after the film has received favourable reviews at various festivals. The film won the Best Film Award at last year’s Osian Cinefest and was nominated for the Best First Feature Film at the Montreal World Film Festival. “This shows that the audience is now open to different kinds of cinema,” says Shukla,who felt truly liberated while doing this film. “I was a bit nervous on the first day. But when I wore my outfit and got ready to do my first scene,which is in fact the first seduction scene in the film,I felt I had added a new dimension to my acting ability.”

Shukla,who is known for her role as Bindiya Naik in Shimit Amin’s Chak De! India,is familiar with Delhi where she did the final year of schooling. She graduated from Miranda House. “I was familiar with the Delhi milieu. I was also aware that these kind of aunties did exist.” There was one particular aunty,a neighbour,who was the actor’s constant point of reference for the movie.

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Be it Chak De! India or her first film Khamosh Paani,Shukla has always been inundated with offers where she is more often than not asked to exhibit her bold side. With BA Pass,Shukla had to add more nuances to the boldness. “This is the bravest choice I’ve made. But I am sure sex will be the last thing on the viewers’ mind when they leave the theatre after watching the movie,” says Shukla,referring to the film’s dark storyline.

Shukla hopes to explore more avenues. “I have never seen myself being in any kind of competition. I wanted to become an actor because I wanted to enjoy and cherish every role I do. Roles like these are not going to come to me everyday,so I am happy waiting,” she says.