I got into TV at the right time, says Shilpa

Shilpa Shukla of Chak De! India fame maintains there wouldn't have been a better time to take the plunge. Shilpa will be seen in comedy flicks this year...

Shilpa Shukla made her presence felt with the role of Bindiya Naik in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer hit film Chak De! India. Now, when she is proving her mettle on the small screen, the actress maintains there wouldn't have been a better time to take the plunge.

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"I think television happened to me at the right time. On one side I am doing Rajuben, a mini series with Anurag Kashyap, which is acting-oriented and on the other hand I'm doing a dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa that I picked up to learn how to dance," Shilpa told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"I felt that there was a need for me to reach out to the audience through the medium of television. Even the audience must be amazed by the contrast of images in the two shows," she added.

However, the 28-year-old actress is convinced that she will not concentrate on television after the two shows end, since "too much television is not good".

"I don't think I will do more of TV after these two shows end because I have my Bollywood films in hand which is my priority. Also I feel too much television is not good for me," said Shilpa.

The actress, who had also been in critically acclaimed films like Khamosh Pani and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, was disappointed when she was among the bottom two contestants in the first week of the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa dance show and says that left her "heartbroken".

"I was heartbroken when I was among the bottom two in the first week itself, simply because I did not feel any reason for me to be at the bottom. I think my performance was decent and I did not deserve to be there.

"But then whatever happens happens for the good and this too made me more determined to do my best and pushed me to give a better performance the next time around."

A theatre artist before the film offers came her way, Shilpa will be seen in comedy flicks this year, in contrast to the genre of films she has acted in earlier.

"Both my films Seasons Greetings, which has actors like Tabu and Shreyas Talpade and Mumbai Mast Kalander are light-hearted films and will release in October. I wanted to try my hand at comedy in order to explore that genre too," said Shilpa.

"In October I will also start shooting for a film called Junction with Abhay Deol," she added.

So does her theatre background help her in Hindi filmdom? "My theatre background helped me a great deal. I am a more open and more humble person now. I know how to respect each and every member of the unit. Technically theatre makes you better with lines, I complete a shot in fewer takes."