From earning Rs 2600 for her first ad project to recalling late husband Piyush’s alcohol addiction; Bhabiji’s Shubhangi Atre’s revelations

Television star Shubhangi Atre, best known for her role as Angoori Bhabhi in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, opened up in a heartfelt conversation with Siddharth Kannan. In a deeply personal interview, she recalled her unexpected entry into showbiz, her early marriage, the joy of motherhood, and the painful reality of her late husband’s struggle with alcohol addiction. Here’s a closer look at the key moments she revealed.

Shubhangi shared how her career began almost by accident. “We shifted to Pune with Ashi and Piyush. He worked in an ad agency, and one day someone saw my photo on his laptop and asked, ‘Who is this?’” Piyush replied, “This is my wife,” and the man asked if she’d model for a local shampoo brand. “Piyush asked me, and I said okay. That’s how I got my first project—I earned ₹2,500. It was 2006. That one opportunity changed everything.”

While working on the ad, the makeup artist (a wife) and the photographer (her husband) saw something special in her. “They said, ‘You have a very Indian face. Why don’t you try TV or films?’ I told them I don’t know anyone in Mumbai. They said Balaji Telefilms holds auditions in Pune. So, one day, I took Ashi—she was just 10 months old—on my scooty and found the venue. I said a few daily soap lines and returned home. The next day, I got a call: ‘You should come to Mumbai. A show is coming up, and we want to cast you.’

“I got married very early. It wasn’t like I was dreaming of getting married, but circumstances led to it. It was a love marriage,” Shubhangi revealed. “The baby came early too. But now when I look back, I see it as God’s plan. I feel grateful because today, I’m settled. Ashi is studying abroad and getting the education she deserves. Sometimes we plan too much, and things don’t work out. But when you go with God’s will, it all falls into place.”See more: Shubhangi Atre reacts to Karan Patel’s temperament during Kasturi days; says ‘I have learnt a lot from him and I consider that as my ragging period’​

Even after all the ups and downs, Shubhangi holds only love and respect for her late husband. “I have no complaints about life and even about Piyush. I really want to remember him for all the good reasons,” she said, her voice emotional. “He gave me Ashi—my biggest gift. That is what I hold on to.”

When Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! was offered to her, Shubhangi was at a crossroads. “I didn’t want to replace anyone, but I needed work again at that time. There were financial responsibilities. I had taken a break and worked selectively, like Anurag Basu’s Tagore Stories. But Bhabiji was a good show and I knew it would offer stability. I believe work is food for the soul. If I don’t enjoy what I do, I can’t do it. No one can force me.”

“I knew a little about his addiction when we got married,” she admitted. “But I thought with love and support, we could fix it. I always tried to remind him—we had a love marriage, we can make this work. We wanted to prove society wrong and become a team. My life revolved around home and work, but I gave it my best. Unfortunately, not everything works out as you hope.”

“I gave my mind, body, heart, and soul to try and help him come out of it,” she shared. “We were together for 17 years. But I never realised how serious it was until I started working more. When I would be away for long hours, Ashi would tell me, ‘Papa is drunk.’ That’s when the truth really hit me.”