Dhadkan director was ‘very upset’ with Shilpa Shetty for doing an ‘item number’ in Shool: ‘With due respect to him…’

Opening up about how filmmaker Dharmesh Darshan expressed his disappointment as she chose to do the song for Shool, she shared, “He was very upset when I decided to take up ‘UP Bihar…’ and thank God I did, because it brought me back in the news. But my director Dharmesh ji, I remember was very upset because Anjali, the character (in Dhadkan) was someone who was supposed to be very classy and cannot be a nautch girl. With due respect to him, I felt it was a decision I should take in my life. And in life, if people follow their convictions and instincts, then they’ll be able to achieve a lot, because I feel we underestimate the power of our instincts.”

Shilpa then shared how she was called an “item girl” after she appeared in the Manoj Bajpayee and Raveena Tandon starrer. “For two years (after doing ‘UP Bihar…’ song) I was known as an item girl, but it kept me working because I was doing so many shows. And then after two years, I revisited Dhadkan and that became a huge hit, and by that time people had forgotten about that (the song) and only remembered that character. Funnily enough, my films work or don’t, that I don’t know. But my songs have always worked. All my songs were huge hits,” she shared.

After making waves with ‘Main Aayi Hoon UP Bihar Lootne,’ Shilpa featured in a few more sizzling dancer numbers including ‘Shut Up and Bounce’ in Dostana.

The actor credits her dance numbers for her success. She said, “Today, I am where I am because of those songs, I cannot undermine or be ungrateful for the music and the power of that music in my life. So, I was able to carve a niche, but it is very hard… I can do a lot of things that a lot of people do, but it’s very hard to be glamorous and at the same time play a bimbette and be convincing at that when you are not that. For me, it was a lot of hard work. I was happy that I was at least able to carve a niche in the aspect or the area of glamour, which is great, it is a great compliment. We are living lives that are aspirational. There should be something that people look up to, if they see me and think they want to look like me, I am ok with that.”

Shilpa will next be seen in Sukhee along with Kusha Kapila and others. The film is scheduled to be released on September 22.