Shilpa Shirodkar recalls how Mithun saved her when considered ‘jinxed’
Shilpa Shirodkar recalls how Mithun saved her when considered ‘jinxed’
Shilpa Shirodkar who was last seen in ‘Bigg Boss’, is remembered for a number of movies like ‘Gopi Kishan’, ‘Aankhen’ and more. Alas, her journey into Bollywood wasn’t paved with a red carpet. It witnessed a lot of struggle and breaking barriers. Early in her career, after a project Boney Kapoor backed project fell apart, the actress the industry labelled her “jinxed”.
Offers dried up, and hope seemed distant, until Mithun Chakraborty stepped in.
In an interview, Shilpa recalled how her big break came courtesy of the veteran star. It all started when Rikku Rakesh Nath, Madhuri Dixit’s manager, reached out to Mithun with a request to give the struggling newcomer a chance. “When Rikku ji asked Mithun Chakraborty to launch her, Mithun without giving it a second thought said, he will launch her.
True to his word, Mithun went above and beyond. He announced Shilpa’s casting in a Bengali film amidst a grand event in Calcutta(now Kolkata) They had a grand mahurat and the news cropoed up that Shilpa has been signed with Mithun. Cut to she shared that he introduced her to Ramesh Sippy. That introduction led to her debut in Bhrashtachar, and marked the beginning of her film journey. “That’s how she got Bhrashtachar, and started working in the film industry. So she has to say that she got this opportunity because of Dada (Mithun) and She was here because of him.
Shilpa owes an immense debt of gratitude towards Mithun Chakraborty till date. She describes her feelings towards him as “full of love, respect, and ever so grateful.” But even with his support, stepping onto a film set alongside him was intimidating for the newcomer. She admitted to feeling the pressure of performing opposite someone she owed her break to.
“He was senior to her and amidst shooting, she would reach the set in the morning and start preparing and giving her solo shots and Dada would come in the afternoon for the combination shots.But she used to be under much pressure to not give retakes that she would give the shots while being scared.
Notwithstanding her nerves, their on-screen chemistry clicked. When Mithun noticed her discomfort, he asked her about it. Shilpa confessed, she told him she doesn’t want to give retakes in front of him, and he told her that she is crazy.
News Edit KV Raman
