After an extended break of 13 years, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shirodkar, who as acted in films like, Bhrashtachar and Kishen Kanhaiya, across 1980s and 1990s - is ready to bounce back, albeit via the small screen route.
The 43-year-old makes an unconventional comeback with the role of a domestic help in Zee TV's new show, Ek Muthi Aasman. The show itself is about domestic helps. "I'm glad that I'm making a comeback with a show that deals with such a strong subject," Shilpa said.
"The TV show deals with the troubles and tribulations that domestic workers go through. Also, through the show, we want to change the mindset of people and tell them that domestic workers are also human beings and they deserve respect and love," she added.
Shilpa, who bid adieu to stardom and settled in London with husband Apresh Ranjit in 2000, plays Kamlabai in the show, which is set in Mumbai.
"My character Kamlabai is an ordinary Maharashtrian domestic help, who works to run her house. She does everything from cooking, cleaning to washing. She has a son. She lives with the dream of giving a better life to her child and seeing him well-settled," said Shilpa. She promises the show will be replete with lots of twists and turns, through which viewers will get to see the ups and downs that a domestic worker goes through.
Shilpa, who also has a nine-year-old daughter named Anushka, shared that back in London, she did all the household chores herself. But now since she has made a recent shift to Mumbai, she has a domestic help who takes care of her house. "I got married in 2000. My husband and I settled in London. I used to do everything - from cleaning, cooking, ironing, getting petrol filled in the car to washing. But now I have a maid who takes care of things."
"Today I am working because she is there to look after my home and daughter. There's a lot of love, admiration and support (for her). I also tell my daughter to be thankful to the maid always," she said, adding how she will use her personal experience to the character.
With no films in hand, the actress wants to give 100 percent of her focus to the TV show. She said: "I'm an actor. I don't care if it's TV or films...your work should be interesting. I'am excited for the show and even my daughter is thrilled. She says she would accompany me on the sets on weekends."
Ek Muthi Aasman is likely to go on air mid-August.