"Queen of Hearts"

-Written by Satya Wanvari, Contributing Editor

Bhikhu Mhatre ki Biwi... Saavi of Hasratein... Zee woman 1997... Filmfare award for best supporting actress... current hostess of Antakshari. These are the various identities or rather milestones in the career of 27 year old actress Shefali Chhayya. Today she is all set to make a mark in Bollywood.

"I have many aspirations and dreams. I want to do extremely good work in Hindi films. Since I am not cut out for the commercial films, I don't mind good character roles but I want to do lead roles in parallel cinema and small budget films like Hyderabad Blues. I am looking forward to a major transformation in the film industry.

Shefali has been born and brought up in Mumbai by, Mangalorean father, Sudhakar Shetty who works with the RBI and has been an international football player and a Gujarati mother Shobha Shetty. Her first stint with acting was on stage when she was ten years old and played the lead role of an obsessed girl. The next acting experience was straight in Mithibai College where she was noticed in an intercollegiate play by Gujarati stage people. Three years of Gujarati theater followed. She did seven to eight plays. "I never thought of acting as a career. I wanted to become a doctor. I had a middle class complex of wanting a secure job."

"I want to do extremely good work in Hindi films."

Television was as incidental as stage. Shefali did some roles in Gujarati serials and in Nukkad. Around this time a makeup artist informed her of a requirement for the serial 'Campus'. She auditioned for the role and landed the part of a journalist. Offers fell on her lap from 'Tara', 'Karz', 'Banegi Apni Baat'. The turning point was 'Hasratien' where she came in as a replacement. "This role was a quest, a fight against myself to prove myself though it depended on people's acceptance of me. "Shefali certainly proved herself and how. She won the Zee Woman award. "It was indeed heartwarming. It showed that people loved me and it is very important for me to be loved."

The next milestone in her career was the Filmfare award for 'Satya', something which was beyond her dreams. Shefali is continuing to move ahead and has now shown her singing talent too through 'Antakshari'.

SHEFALI CHHAAYA's ACTING TIPS

Don't join this field if you are in it for the glamour.
If you want an easy life then go and sell 'Herbal Life' or become a distributor sitting at home. If you are in it just to look good, then think again.

Do your job honestly and truly.
Or else you are wasting your time, others' time and most importantly taking the place of more deserving strugglers.

Bad work is worse than sitting at home.
Give it one hundred percent. Don't take up a role if you don't believe in it.

Be mad and passionate about your work.
Acting is like poetry. It can only come from within you.