Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Shefali Shah Reflects on Career and Life in New Memoir
Actor Shefali Shah has written her first book, a memoir about parts of her life and career.
She says she wanted it to be honest, funny and easy to read.
She talks about mistakes and changes in her life, but says she is not trying to teach readers what to do.
Shah says playing Vartika in Delhi Crime was important to her because she wanted the character to seem real.
She is happy that people of different ages enjoy her work.
She also thinks women have better roles in films today, though she points to older films with memorable roles for women.
Shah says her first marriage ended, and she chose to discuss it respectfully in the book.
Shefali Shah’s debut book, The Audacity of Being: A Sort of Memoir, is an honest and self-deprecating account of her life and career.
Shah says she wanted the book to be funny and easy to read, not a source of advice, and describes discussing her mistakes and fears.
She calls her role as Vartika in Delhi Crime precious and says she aimed to make the character feel raw and authentic.
Shah says audiences across generations have connected with different parts of her work, including Hasratein and Delhi Crime.
She says women’s roles have improved, while acknowledging earlier films such as Anupama, Amar Prem and Aandhi featured strong parts.
- Who
- Actor and author Shefali Shah.
- What
- She discusses her debut memoir, her career, acting roles, women’s roles in film and her first marriage.
- When
- The article does not state when the book was published.
- Where
- Not specified.
- Why
- Shah says she wanted to write an honest, self-deprecating, funny and accessible account, rather than offer advice.
Earlier and current portrayals of women
Shah’s assessment
Women’s roles in film
Earlier and current portrayals of women
Shah recalls that films in the 1960s and 1970s, including Anupama, Amar Prem and Aandhi, had strong roles for women, followed by a period of less substantial roles.
Shah’s assessment
She says roles for women are better now, and describes the change as a positive one.
- Book
- The Audacity of Being: A Sort of Memoir
- Author
- Shefali Shah
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury
- Career span
- Shah describes her working career as 30 years.
- Notable role
- Vartika in Delhi Crime (2019)
- Other works mentioned
- Hasratein (1996), Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005), and Darlings