Exclusive - Shilpa Shirodkar opens up on Bigg Boss 18, reacting to not getting support from sister Namrata and Mahesh Babu and battling depression after losing parents

Bigg Boss 18 fame and popular 90s Bollywood actress Shilpa Shirodkar, who experienced a rollercoaster journey in the controversial reality show, is now relishing the spotlight. The popular actress spoke exclusively to Times of India TV and addressed claims of sister Namrata and brother-in-law Mahesh Babu not supporting her for Bigg Boss 18. She also reflected on battling depression after losing her parents and got emotional during the conversation. Shilpa also spoke about how her husband became her biggest pillar of strength during the toughest phase of her life. (Photo: Instagram)

Life after Bigg Boss is busy and I’m loving it. I wanted to work again and be busy and I feel God is hearing all my prayers. After Bigg Boss wherever I’m going people are meeting me with so much love and affection. They say such good things and praise me for being in the house with dignity and grace. I feel I’ve won a lot of hearts and for me that’s what matters the most that I was able to be me. (Photo: Instagram)

It was great meeting my sister (Namrata) and family. As everyone is aware my husband and daughter don’t stay in India and they live in the UK and as soon as my husband went back after the finale, I travelled to Hyderabad to meet Namrata. It was so beautiful because I was meeting her after four and a half months. Family comes first for me and when she saw me for the first time even she was shocked seeing my weight loss. (Photo: Instagram)

My family is so proud of me, nobody imagined that I would manage to survive for so long in the show. The more I stayed inside the house, they were just happy and proud of me that I was being me and doing what I know best. We did not discuss anything about Bigg Boss because there were so many things about our lives to discuss. She just gave me a hug and said I’m so proud of you and then we discussed our kids, husbands, life and world. (Photo: Instagram)

People thought Namrata and I had a fight because of my decision to do Bigg Boss but they didn't know that she was part of my entire process of signing the contract for Bigg Boss. She was there when I signed my contract and it had nothing to do with Bigg Boss, it was just sister’s tiff. When we met we didn’t even discuss why we fought. I got emotional in front of Anurag Kashyap because in that house, all the emotions were so exaggerated and I was not able to talk to anyone from the family. It was that moment of weakness where I remembered her a lot and when I met her it was just pure happiness. (Photo: Instagram)

When I was in the house, I realised many things about life and relationships and one of them was that I can’t make everyone happy. There’s always a mix of audience. There’s always one audience who will understand you and one who will not. You can’t please everyone and that’s what I’ve understood. I’ve been true to myself and I know my family and I don’t need to justify or answer anyone. For me this is enough. Agar log Humare rishtey ko ek social media yaa Instagram post se judge karenge toh so be it. Toh karne do, I know what my family is for me and what I’m for them. (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t need to justify it to anyone or give any validation. Each one to their own and actually it is very sad that we have reached a stage where our relationships are based on the fact that your connection is visible through an Instagram post or a tweet. For me these things are very trivial and they don’t matter. And I’m happy that way. (Photo: Instagram)

My parents passed away in 2007 when I was already married and had given birth to Anushka, my daughter. I was not in the industry and my parent's demise happened in short intervals. When my mother passed away in 2008 it took a toll on me emotionally and mentally. It was in a very tough phase and bahut mushkil time that Woh Jahan main guzri. With me my entire family also went through a lot. It is very easy to say that behind a successful man there’s a woman, but in my case, it was my husband who was my backbone. He left his job to support me emotionally. It was very beautiful. (She gets emotional). (Photo: Instagram)

I have no regrets of leaving the industry, and I’m very lucky that I’ve my husband Upresh in my life. He was at the peak of his career and he left that for me, had he continued he would have been at a different level. But everyone has their destiny calling and we have also seen that. Today I’m doing what I’m doing because I’ve a very supportive family. (Photo: Instagram)