Mumbai, August 5, 2025 — Celebrating the third anniversary of Darlings, acclaimed actor Shefali Shah opened up about her experience working alongside Alia Bhatt and portraying the fiery Shamshunissa in Jasmeet K. Reen’s directorial debut. The Netflix original, released on August 5, 2022, continues to resonate with audiences for its bold narrative and compelling performances.
In an exclusive interview, Shefali described her immediate connection to the script, calling it “love at first read.” She praised the film’s unique blend of dark comedy and social commentary, noting that the story tackled domestic abuse with nuance and wit—“like sugar-coated quinine,” she said, making a bitter truth easier to digest.
Shefali’s portrayal of Shamshunissa—a protective, enterprising, and unpredictable mother—was shaped through immersive character work, including conversations with women from similar backgrounds. She emphasized that Shamshu was crafted to be her own person, not a caricature, and credited director Jasmeet K. Reen for fostering a collaborative creative process.
Reflecting on her on-screen chemistry with Alia Bhatt, Shefali recalled how they “fell into sync almost immediately,” with rehearsals and scene discussions flowing naturally. Their mother-daughter dynamic was widely praised, adding emotional depth to the film’s central theme of resilience and revenge.
While Shefali found every scene challenging in its own way, she described the overall experience as “an absolute blast,” highlighting Shamshu as one of the closest characters to her real-life persona—strong, spunky, and fiercely protective.
Darlings remains a landmark film for its cast and crew, with Shefali Shah’s performance standing out as a testament to her versatility and emotional range.
