Candid chat with Shubhangi Atre

I have not paid a single paise for any of my 9 awards: Shubhangi Atre

Shubhangi Atre, who will soon complete three years as Angoori Bhabhi in hit &TV show, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! credits her continuing success to hard work, dedication, and yes, luck.

“I have been doing good work (Kasturi, Do Hanson Ka Jodaa and Chidiya Ghar) for a number of years, but finally found my calling with this total dim-witted housewife role.”

“I really enjoy playing her, for she ends up saying a lot. Here, I must thank both my co-stars, Rohitash Gaud and Aashif Sheikh, who have really cooperated with me.”

“I also thank the creative team at Edit 11. It is no mean task to keep writing funny scenes, day in and day out. Repetition does creep in sometimes, but that is bound to happen if you clock over 1100 episodes.”

Shubhangi, who has won a record nine awards for her Angoori stint, says, “Such awards are important, for they vindicate our efforts. I know some awards are called rigged, but I have not paid a single paise for any award of mine.”

“All I can say is that the category of awards must be made smaller. Sometimes, in a bid to accommodate more people, two segments are created, and you get branded either in the critic or popular segment, which gets a bit confusing for the end viewer.”

As of now, Shubhangi is enjoying her stint but down the road she would also want to try her hand at more earthy and realistic roles, something like the new Netflix rage, Delhi Crime. “I want to come out of this always-dolled-up image. On TV, I have so far played a good bahu, negative (Hawan) and now, comedy.”

Shubhangi, who prefers to keep a low profile, is very happy with the fact that most people don’t recognize her easily in casual western clothes. “This enables me to easily go out and have pani puri. I really find it funny when people think I am always dressed up in saris.”

Although Shubhangi has a very quiet demeanour, as an artist, she is quite a live wire. “I have always wanted to act right from childhood. I would lock myself in the loo for hours to ape all my fav actresses. Even now I keep rehearsing in an attempt to be as natural as possible. Those who follow me on Tik Tok must have seen all my videos with different shades.”