Getting nominated for an Emmy is what an actor dreams of: Shefali Shah

This is the second time the series has bagged an Emmy nomination.

When Delhi Crime, created by Richie Mehta, won the Best Drama Series award at the International Emmy Awards in 2020, its lead actor Shefali Shah – who was watching the ceremony’s live streaming at home – “screamed and jumped” with joy.

The pandemic-related restrictions did not allow the team to attend the ceremony. This time, however, the actor is looking forward to attending the ceremony to be held on November 20 in New York.

But before that, on this evening, Shah plans to have an impromptu celebration with friends. “We will just chill in our pyjamas and have a blast,” says the 50-year-old actor.

Apart from Shah, Jim Sarbh has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actor for his portrayal of Homi Jehangir Bhabha in the SonyLIV series Rocket Boys, and Vir Das in comedy category for the Netflix show, Vir Das: Landing.
“Getting nominated for an Emmy is one of those things you dream of as an actor. I feel happy and honoured,” says the actor, who featured in critically-acclaimed Darlings and Doctor G recently.

Talking about how the experience of working on both the seasons were different, she says: “Delhi Crime S1 was about the crime (that took place) while the second season was more about the characters.”

Shah’s Emmy nomination is proof that the international audience connected with her portrayal of Vartika. Shah says: “Vartika is neither a caricature nor a hero. She is absolutely real. She reacts like a woman but she acts like a boss. A lot of viewers could relate to her.”

Though an announcement has been made about Delhi Crime returning with a new season, the shooting is expected to start in 2024. At present, the third season is being developed.

Talking about the challenges of reprising the popular character in the new season, Shah says, “It is easy to fall back on what worked the last time. But that would be boring. There is a fine line between being unpredictable and keeping the grain of a character intact. That’s going to keep the audience interested and the show relatable. The pressure will be more in Season 3.”