From reacting to husband Krushna Abhishek roasting her to working as Shiamak Davar's dancer and bagging the SRK-Juhi starrer 'Yes Boss,' Kashmera Shah on her journey

Kashmera Shah has been in the industry for close to three decades and has worked in films and TV shows. During her acting career, the actress has acted in films like Yes Boss, Jungle, and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, among others. She recently appeared on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa's podcast where she opened up about her life. From reacting to husband Krushna Abhishek roasting her on shows to her early days as a dancer with Shiamak Davar and eventually bagging the Yes Boss, the actress recalled the many phases that shaped her career. (Photo: Instagram)

We had gone for a promotion of a New Year's Event. There was a press conference around New Year’s, on 31st December. Many celebrities attended, including Rakhi Sawant and Shefali Jariwala, along with many young girls. Krushna and I were there as a couple, while most of the others were single. Some events were happening in Mumbai, some in Hyderabad, and we were supposed to go to Dubai. During the press conference, one reporter was quite ill-mannered. Usually, media people are very respectful—I truly respect them because they’ve supported me throughout my journey. (Photo: Instagram)

At that time, Krushna and I were already married. The reporter asked him, ‘Which girl do you like here?’ Krushna answered politely, saying everyone is good. But the reporter kept pushing, asking which girl he would like to go on a date with. I stepped in and questioned why such a thing was being asked. Even after that, the same question was repeated multiple times. At one point, I had to firmly say that this wasn’t the right way to behave. The reporter said I was being rude, but I told him that he was crossing the line by asking my husband such questions. This whole incident happened around 10 years ago, and people only saw a small part of it later.” (Photo: Instagram)

No one would ask such questions to that reporter or his wife. If someone asked your wife which man she would like to go on a date with, would you be okay with it? We are also someone’s daughters and daughters-in-law. Just because we are actors it doesn’t mean our real lives are the same as what we portray on screen. Kashmera Shah on screen is different from the person you see off screen, and both are different from the mother of my children. These are all separate roles in life.” (Photo: Instagram)

I respect Krushna Abhishek a lot, no matter how much he jokes about me, because I’ve given him that freedom. I love him the most—of course, I love my mother, that goes without saying but after her, he comes first for me. Then come my kids. My children also know that he is my priority. I even call him my first child. He loves his father, his sister Arti Singh, and me a lot. No matter what he says, the bond is strong. Today, we are best friends because we’ve been together for so many years. He gives me the freedom to be myself, and I live my life the way I want. I don’t do things to impress anyone.” (Photo: Instagram)

I rejected around 20 songs and chose to do only 7–8. I have a good sense of music, so I pick carefully. I felt that if a song suited me and stayed with people, it would become a hit—so I only proceeded with those kinds of songs. (Photo: Instagram)

What I believe is that I’ve been in this industry for almost 30 years now, and I’m still going strong—even without PR. And I believe I’ll continue for many more years. People have come and gone, done many songs, and been forgotten. I’ve also done many songs, but I’ve maintained myself—my fitness, my skin, everything. I don’t take injections or do Botox. I just focus on eating well and living right. I haven’t taken shortcuts or done anything wrong to get ahead. I believe what truly matters is hard work and blessings. People may find it hard to believe, but it’s the truth—I keep it simple, eat healthy, and take care of myself.” (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t get angry at Krushna because roasting people is his job. Our love language is roasting. I get angry when people drag the joke that Krushna cracks on me. You don’t know me; how can you make fun of me? Krushna is roasting me because it is his job and he has been doing for 18 years. I also roast him sometimes, but there are a few kids on our show Laughter Chefs who feel it is okay to tell Kashmera anything. It is not okay. There was a contestant on our show jisne aake bola haan Krushna main tumhara dukh jaanta hoon. I straight away confronted him. That person went speechless. (Photo: Instagram)

My mother had promised that once I turned 16-18, she would give me money for a portfolio. I went and asked my mom for Rs 6,000 but she refused and also told me, "Apne aap ko dekha hai kya?" She insulted me to my face. I was in Sofia College for a year and kept thinking about how I should arrange money. I was sitting in my college canteen when somebody informed me about a contest in Sofia Polytechnic. Shaimak Davar was the judge and he was selecting students from that contest. (Photo: Instagram)

I asked my two friends to arrange a jeans for me as I was wearing a skirt. I performed and was the first person to get selected. For the next two years I worked as a dancer for Shiamak Davar. I was the lead dancer for him. From there I started working on my diet and fitness. In the next two years, I finally managed to get Rs 6,000 for my portfolio. I went to Atul Kasbekar and got my portfolio done. Later, I went on to do big ad commercials. (Photo: Instagram)

I had not informed my mother when I did Yes Boss. I directly took my mother to watch the film in a theatre. Without makeup, nobody recognised me as I looked very different and wore simple clothes. I did not have money to buy luxury clothes. I was paid only Rs 30,000 for the film. I was a struggler. I had auditioned for Kumar Sanu’s music video, and Niki Aneja was doing Yes Boss at that time. But she did not do the film as she was quitting the industry. They had everyone’s dates—SRK, Juhi—and she had even shot for two days. They wanted someone tall, and the person who was casting me for the music video suggested my name and that’s how I got the film. (Photo: Instagram)