Shilpa Shetty on being selective with film choices amid OTT boom: 'I don't want to COMPROMISE'

Shilpa Shetty Kundra recently offered a candid take on how the business of filmmaking has fundamentally changed. The actress spoke about her selective approach to work, her desire for a theatrical release, and why she has no regrets about turning down big films.

Shilpa Shetty says producers don't want to take risks now

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Shilpa said, "The industry is going through a little bit of a lull also because they'd rather not take the onus or the risk and just do OTT. I don't blame them. The whole mathematics of making a film, the costing, all of that, has changed."

Shilpa Shetty talks about why she is more selective about her projects

Having successfully balanced films, television, and entrepreneurship over the years, Shilpa Shetty said that she has reached a point in her career where she is unwilling to settle. She said, "I don't want to compromise too much on what I want to do because I've been there, done that for a very long time. I want to justify it when I'm seen on screen."



During the conversation, she also talked about why she wants a big screen release. The actress said, "My children haven't seen me in a theatre. That's why I want to do a film that gets a theatrical release. My son watched 'Sukhee' in 2023, but it was in a preview theatre. I hope I get something that's like the films we used to make earlier."

Reflecting on her 2023 film 'Sukhee', the actress expressed disappointment over its limited theatrical run. She elaborated, "'Sukhee' released at a time when we didn't get enough theatres. It was such a disservice to the movie. But OTT is a great platform because people can discover a film at their own time. Now I'm aiming for a film with a theatrical release, so my kids can watch me on screen."

Shilpa Shetty talks about turning down big movies

Now hosting the cooking reality show 'Maa Hai Na', Shilpa Shetty stated that 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year professionally. She also addressed rumours and questions about projects she has declined, making it clear she stands firmly by every decision she has made. She said, "This year a lot is happening work-wise. While I'm aiming for a theatrical release, the length of the role has never been the criteria for me. There have been instances where I've said no, and my reasons were totally justified — they were mine. There are some very big films I've said no to, but that's between me and the producer. Why should I speak about it? I never ever regret my decisions."

Meanwhile, the actress was recently seen in Kannada movie 'KD: The Devil', starring Dhruva Sarja and Sanjay Dutt. It was released in April this year.