Shefali Shah Says Mira Nair Challenged Her During Monsoon Wedding

Shefali Shah has written a memoir about parts of her life and acting career.

In it, she remembers meeting director Mira Nair before making Monsoon Wedding.

Nair had seen Shah play Pyaari in the film Satya.

Shah says Nair first spoke to her in Hindi because she thought Shah might not speak English.

For Monsoon Wedding, Shah played Ria, a woman with a difficult past.

Nair challenged her to act in a very different way from her earlier role.

Shah says the set felt like a school for actors, and everyone worked without a strict hierarchy.

The film later won a major prize at the Venice International Film Festival.