Shefali Shah says marriage with filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah ‘far from perfect’: ‘Dismissing your wish not a testimony of a good marriage’

“25 years of marriage. Miles of ground covered. 45,000 feet above sea level. One celebration. Heading to one holiday. Two seats together, but I chose to get myself another seat,” Shefali wrote, sharing a video of herself dancing with Vipul to the viral song “Tum Tum”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shefali Shah (@shefalishahofficial)

In the post, Shefali Shah humorously recounted the couple’s flight where she chose a window seat while Vipul preferred an aisle seat for better legroom. She shared a picture of their seats, with one empty space between them, clarifying that it wasn’t a sign of any marital trouble.

“No drama, just comfort for both of us,” she wrote, adding, “Yes, a lot may say what’s a little discomfort for togetherness, but dismissing your wish or your comfort isn’t a sign of a good marriage. The intensity of love doesn’t depend on sharing an armrest. Just because we didn’t sit together doesn’t mean we’re getting divorced. Space doesn’t mean distance. Togetherness doesn’t mean claustrophobia. And compromising single-handedly is not companionship.”

ALSO READ | Reema Jain says Farah Khan’s cook Dilip reminds her of ‘Raj Kapoor’s guru’ Charlie Chaplin, filmmaker says, ‘Moochein chotta kar de thoda’

Shefali Shah, who has previously spoken about the struggles of her first marriage, reflected on the happiness she has found with Vipul Shah.

“Our marriage has been full of ups and downs, easy and difficult, immense joy and excruciating pain,” she admitted, adding, “But through thick and thin—our bodies, wallets, patience, tolerance, and love—we’ve survived it all. For better or worse, through moods, temperaments, egos, adjustments, and growth.”

Shefali made it clear that despite the external appearance of a “perfect” marriage, it has had its challenges.

“We have danced together for 25 years,” she shared with a touch of humour. “Sometimes in sync, sometimes out of sync. Sometimes I lead, sometimes he follows. Occasionally, we’ve stepped on each other’s toes and tripped, but we always pick each other up—after laughing.”

While acknowledging that “happily ever after” isn’t always realistic, Shefali said that with Vipul, it feels possible. “We know together our chances of happily ever after are far higher. And thank God for that. Of course, our sunshine boys have been our Fevicol ka jod.”

Her thoughtful post earned her praise from fans, who not only admired her eloquence but also congratulated the couple on their lasting love.

In an interview with Brut, Shefali Shah revealed the story behind her relationship with Vipul Shah. “I was married earlier, and it wasn’t the best place to be,” she confessed, adding, “I met Vipul later when he offered me every possible play and serial he had done. But I kept saying no. I had no idea why. I didn’t know much about him.”

Shefali shared that when Vipul offered her a film, she went to meet him with the intention of turning it down—but he managed to convince her. “I realised he was a different version of men. He’s rock solid, calm, and funny,” she said, adding, “I remember one time I was travelling to Gujarat for his film, and he asked me to carry a parcel. When I opened it, it was money. I asked him what it was for, and he said, ‘I don’t like the food being served to the crew, but the producer can’t afford it, so I’ll take care of it myself.’ That spoke volumes about the kind of person he is.”

Shefali also explained that she knew she had found the right person when they got married shortly after her divorce. “It wasn’t a mutual divorce. It was tough. But I got married to Vipul, and right after that, I started telling my directors and producers to write me out because I wanted to have kids. I was working in television at that time.”

Shefali Shah revealed that her marriage wasn’t the most popular decision with her family at the time. “My parents met Vipul, but it wasn’t the highlight of their life because of the divorce. It was a big taboo,” she recalled.

Looking back, Shefali spoke candidly about how, sometimes, it’s better to leave a toxic relationship than to stay in it. “There are life-and-death situations, and this was one of them. You would rather not be in a relationship than be in an unhealthy one.”