There aren't many who can play diverse roles with ease. And there are still fewer who seek out the challenges rather than sticking to the familiar. Shilpa Shukla is one of those few. After playing an envious hockey team member in the landmark Chak De! India, she agreed to shake a leg on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3. And if this was not challenge enough, she is playing the protagonist in Anurag Kashyap’s Rajuben, which is a part of Sony’s Specials @ 10.

Rajuben is about Rajshree, the daughter of a Gandhian fundamentalist, who strays from her father's ideals and principles. Not only that, she gets emotionally involved with Rohit, an underworld upstart, and goes to lead an entire gang in the underworld.

From wielding a hockey stick to shaking a leg to gunning people down, Shilpa seems comfortable with everything. She spoke with Tellychakkar about her past, present, and future roles.

Chak De, Jhalak, and Rajuben...how and why did you happen to accept such strikingly different assignments?

After Chak De, there was a gap of about eight months during which I was working in two films at the same time. Both films are now due for an October release. Jhalak, I think happened to me at the right time because I am reading the script for another film which is about a girl who goes on to win a reality show. So, it struck a chord somewhere.

The other thing is that, as an actor, I like picking up skills. For Chak De, I learnt hockey. For Khamosh Paani, which was set in Pakistan, I picked up Punjabi. For Jhalak, I am learning to dance. Plus, above all, I get to look pretty in Jhalak, which does not happen too often, given the type of roles that I do. As for Rajuben, really speaking, it is more than a film. It’s close to my heart; I cover the entire lifespan – right from her 20s to her 50s – of this incredibly gutsy woman.

What are your forthcoming movies about?

They are very light movies. One is Seasons Greetings, which has 10 actors – actors like Tabu and Shreyas Talpade. I am paired opposite Javed Jaffrey. The other one is Mumbai Mast Kalander – a comedy film about a makeover artist. I enjoyed every moment of it.

I believe Anurag Kashyap said that no one apart from you could do Rajuben. How do you react to that?

Thank God he insisted on me doing this role. There was a slight problem initially because I did not have the dates for him. When I finally worked it out and accepted the role, I kept the script next to my awards for luck. I seriously believe that it would have been one of my silliest regrets had I refused this role.

The films Anurag Kashyap makes are very grim; a complete contrast to the roles you have just described…

True. They are grim, but beautiful. Each frame of Rajuben is beautiful. Even if you are merely surfing channels, I am certain that once you come to Rajuben, you will be unable to take your eyes off it. That is how exquisitely beautiful it is.

Did you ever ask him why he thought of you as Rajuben?

We go back a long way. When I was very new in Mumbai, I was working on a film called Junction. So, the familiarity brought with it the confidence.

How has Jhalak been so far?

It has been great. And I mean it. It has been like therapy for me. All day, I am shooting for Rajuben, which can get quite stressful. So, when I go for rehearsals in the evening, I use it as an opportunity to de-stress. It’s almost as though I have a split personality.

Your choreographer is Nishant. How has it been with him?

It has been great. He is a very chilled out guy. I am not a trained dancer, and so I am a little slow with the technical stuff like counts. But he has been really great and has opened me up as a person. I think I’m really lucky to be around the right people at the right time.

We hear that Nishant has recently been operated upon.

Yes. For the first episode, he swallowed pain killers and danced. Immediately after, he went for surgery, which was a laser procedure. He was back after just one day’s rest. We are back in action now. Don’t ask me what happened to him. I cannot tell.

Okay, no issues. Any anecdotes you’d like to share with us? Anything on any of your shows or films?

My birthday was on February 22 and this year, I cut two-and-a-half cakes. I cut half-a-cake with a friend of mine. Then, I came to shoot for Rajuben, where I cut another cake when looking like a 50 year old. And finally, I came to rehearse for Jhalak, I cut another cake. Rocking birthday!