Shefali Shah reflects on playing Ria in Mira Nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding’ clocks 25 years: ‘Women going through what she did isn’t unheard of but it’s never spoken about or shown as honestly’ |

Shefali Shah reflects on playing Ria in Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding (Image Credits Instagram and IMDb)

Shefali Shah’s performance as Ria Verma in Mira Nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding’ remains one of the most memorable portrayals of trauma and abuse in Hindi cinema. Twenty-five years after the film’s release, the actor has reflected on the experience of making the acclaimed drama, the complexity of Ria’s character and the impact the film continues to have.In a recent conversation with Variety India, Shah recalled how Mira Nair approached her after watching Satya and offered her the role. While she initially did not fully understand the scale of the film, going through the script helped her recognise the emotional depth of Ria’s story.

How Shefali Shah landed the role of Ria in ‘Monsoon Wedding’

Shefali Shah recalled receiving a call from Mira Nair after the director had watched her performance in Satya. Nair reportedly told her that she was interested in her for the character of Ria.“After ‘Satya’, I remember Mira Nair calling me and saying, ‘Nahi pata ke aapko Hindi aati hai ke nahi,’ because she’d seen the film. She believed in the character I played, which was a huge compliment,” Shah recalled.At the time, however, Shah said she did not immediately understand how significant the film would become. It was only while reading the script and exploring Ria’s circumstances that she began to appreciate the character’s emotional complexity.

Shefali Shah on understanding Ria’s trauma

Ria’s storyline deals with sexual abuse within a family, a subject that Shah believes was rarely portrayed with the same openness at the time.“Women going through what Ria did isn’t something unheard of. But the thing is, it’s never spoken about or shown as honestly as it was in ‘Monsoon Wedding’,” she said.The actor also remembered the extensive preparation undertaken by the cast before filming. The actors spent around 15 to 20 days in Delhi before the shoot, participating in yoga sessions, workshops with Naseeruddin Shah and detailed scene discussions with Nair.Shah described the process as one of the best shooting experiences of her career.Asked whether she would approach Ria differently if she played the character today, Shah said she would not want to alter her performance.She explained that her approach at the time was instinctive and spontaneous rather than based on a formal understanding of acting technique.“Mostly, actors look back at their work and say, ‘Oh, I could have played this differently.’ But I don’t know how,” she said.Looking back at the finished film, Shah added, “The free space we all got to explore the film, whether it was in performances or the way it was shot, was amazing. It was an experience that is unparalleled.”She summed up her feelings about the film by saying, “The film is near-perfect in its imperfectness.”

Did Ria heal from her trauma?

For Shah, Ria’s decision to speak about the abuse represented an important form of liberation, even if complete healing from trauma may not always be possible.“I think Ria’s found her voice then. And I think it was a closure of a kind,” she said.The actor explained that Ria’s ability to identify the person responsible and receive support from her family helped her break away from the silence and guilt surrounding what had happened.“She found her voice, and I think it kind of just freed her,” Shah added.

Shefali Shah says ‘Monsoon Wedding’ remains relevant after 25 years

Reflecting on the film a quarter of a century after its release, Shah said its significance has not diminished.“It’s a cult film and a brilliant film. It’s a film that was relevant then and it’s relevant today,” she said.According to Shah, ‘Monsoon Wedding’ was among the films that addressed incestuous abuse openly and gave a voice to people who had experienced similar trauma.The actor also described working with Nair, Naseeruddin Shah, the ensemble cast and cinematographer Declan Quinn as an important part of her professional and personal journey.“It holds a very special place in my career, my life personally, and my filmography,” she said.

Shefali Shah on ‘Delhi Crime‘ and the role that changed her career

While ‘Monsoon Wedding’ remains particularly special to Shah, she identified Vartika Chaturvedi from ‘Delhi Crime’ as another character that transformed her career.“Vartika Chaturvedi in ‘Delhi Crime’ is another character that changed my career completely,” she said.Shah described the role as a turning point in how she approached characters and how audiences and the industry perceived her work.“It truly is the game-changer for me,” she added.

What’s next for Shefali Shah?

On the work front, Shah has several projects in various stages of production. She revealed that she has completed Hisaab, directed by her husband Vipul Amrutlal Shah, which also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Abhishek Banerjee. The actor also mentioned another film and a series that she has already shot, although she said she could not reveal details about those projects yet. She is currently reading a couple of scripts.