Exclusive - From facing blame for breaking the team to claiming Shubhangi Atre copied her Angoori; Shilpa Shinde on Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai, comeback, and comparisons

Television actress Shilpa Shinde, who exited Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain! 10 years ago following major disputes with the makers, has returned as the original Angoori Bhabhi for the show’s second season. She once again steps into to play the role of Angoori Bhabhi as Shubhagi Atre quit the show. From addressing allegations that she broke the team in the past to claiming that Shubhangi Atre copied her portrayal of the character, the actress speaks openly about her comeback, the comparisons, and her journey with the show in this exclusive conversation with Times of India TV. (Photo: Instagram)

I obviously feel great, really happy about it. What makes me even happier is that the audience is loving it. Understanding viewers is never easy, so it feels amazing to see such a positive response not just for me, but for everyone. Of course, I feel good, really good. What makes me even happier is that the audience is enjoying it too. Understanding viewers isn’t easy, so getting such a positive response for everyone feels truly rewarding. (Photo: Instagram)

There were many disagreements when I left the show. I’ve always believed one thing, and I’ve said this before as well: when there’s a communication gap, when you are unable to express yourself clearly or the other person isn’t willing to listen, things can spiral quickly. When a third person steps in between two people, misunderstandings can easily turn into conflicts. We see this often happening on Bigg Boss, and I witnessed it there too. So when a similar situation happened with me in the Bigg Boss house, I was like I have already experienced this in my personal life. The Bigg Boss journey became a cake walk then and the issues I faced there felt small. I survived that too. (Photo: Instagram)

It was quite difficult, and honestly, I never really expected things to turn out that way. We had many discussions and shared a good equation at one point, but somewhere, misunderstandings crept in. A third person added fuel to the situation, which made things worse. Despite everything, I never imagined that I would return to the show. Our writer, Manoj ji, always wanted me to come back and would often call and insist. I would tell him that I wanted to try something different, that for me, once something ends, it truly ends. (Photo: Instagram)

I was completely at peace with that chapter closing. Time, however, teaches you many lessons. I don’t know why, but this was something he really wanted. I last met Manoj ji in December, when I told him that I would do as much as I could from my side. Sadly, we couldn’t save him, but perhaps it was his blessing in disguise. The audience was heartbroken, and honestly, we weren’t able to give them the happiness they were hoping for. Finally I am here playing the role. (Photo: Instagram)

Everyone pointed fingers at me, saying I was responsible for breaking the team. My performance was hardly acknowledged; instead, the focus stayed on the team falling apart. But that’s fine, everyone has their own perspective. When things fell apart, my only intention was to bring smiles to people. I still remember meeting a man at the airport who told me his mother was battling cancer. He said that while watching our show, she smiled before passing away. (Photo: Instagram)

At that moment, I felt incredibly emotional and humbled. Making someone smile in their toughest time is no small thing. Creating laughter is not easy, it’s a blessing. I truly feel grateful. The channel, the show, and all of us associated with it are blessed to present something meaningful to the audience in a fresh way. It feels like the universe itself is aligned to bring everyone together. (Photo: Instagram)

My response is usko agar uska khud ka perform karne ke liye bolte, toh kuch naya hota, kyunki usko copy karne ke liye bol diya, toh gadbad hogayi (I felt that if she had been asked to perform the role in her own style, it would have been completely different. The issue arose because she was told to copy.) It was a mistake when she was asked to copy. Even today, I feel the same way. Like Vidisha mentioned, she brought her own touch to Anita Bhabhi's role. While working, I never felt that she was trying to be Soumya Tandon or the earlier Anita. She is talented and strong in her own space, but with Shubhangi the real mistake was attempting to imitate. Otherwise, she could have portrayed the character beautifully. She has worked for nearly a decade, and copying wasn’t necessary. Because of that, comparisons became inevitable. Had that not happened, there would have been no comparison at all, that’s how I see it. (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t believe there’s any comparison to be made. I genuinely can’t put myself alongside anyone else. Bhabhi Ji has always been identified with Shilpa Shinde, and that’s precisely why I’m standing here even after a decade. When I stepped back onto the set, it didn’t feel like a comeback, it felt like I was resuming the journey from the very point where I had paused. So, there was no specific hurdle as such. The only real challenge for me is that viewers should see the character on screen, not Shilpa Shinde behind it. That, according to me, is the true test. (Photo: Instagram)