The Desire may be my last film for now: Shetty

Shetty says it is not her comeback but rather a last venture before her break from acting.

MUMBAI:

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, who is returning to the big screen in a full-fledged role after four years with her delayed project The Desire, says it is not her comeback but rather a last venture before her break from acting.

“I have decided that I won’t do any films for some time because my priorities have changed. I want to concentrate on myself, travel and concentrate on my business. So I have decided not to take up any work,” Shetty shares in an interview.

The “Shut Up and Bounce” diva got married to Britain-based Indian businessman Raj Kundra in 2009 and now wants to focus on her personal life and business (which includes a spa chain). “This is going to be the last film audiences will see me acting in for some time, however, even though marriage is a full-time job, I’ll keep doing advertisements and [film] appearances along with my business,” she says.

The actor is paired with Chinese actor Xia Yu in The Desire, directed by journalist-turned-national award-winning Malayalam film director R Sarath. The story traces the respective lives of accomplished Odissi dancer Goutami (Shetty) and talented Chinese artist Jai Leang (Xia Yu) who meet in Malaysia. “I have never portrayed a role like this before. Considering the fact that dancing has always been my forte, I got a role where dancing is an integral part of the film. That is why I enjoyed playing this part.”

The Desire, which the Bollywood actor-cum-entrepreneur describes as an ‘amalgamation of two rich cultural heritages’ was expected to be completed in 2009 but was stalled due to a financial crisis. It has recently been bailed out by Shetty’s mother, Sunanda,and is ready to hit the screens. “I am really happy that it has done well at the festival circuit; people loved it. It won an award at the Geneva Film Festival,” beams Shetty.

The Desire is reported to be a bold film, but according to Shetty there is nothing vulgar in it. “It’s about gender preferences and how everyone has a desire. There is another character who is attracted to me, but I am not attracted to her. It’s a very aesthetically shot film,” the actor adds while justifying the theme of her project.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2011.