MUMBAI: Shamita Shetty, who made her debut with the hit film Mohabbatein, says that she started off with the best film, but unfortunately, her career didn’t shape up as expected. However, the lows in her life encouraged her to embark on a spiritual journey.    

In an interview with Bombay Times, the actress said, “My life changed at the age of 27. I was doing well professionally and had just got out of a serious relationship. I suddenly realised that I had reached a low in my life, be it spiritually or emotionally, and started asking a lot of questions — beyond just career and relationships. It’s not like I abandoned the industry. I just felt being a part of this industry was sucking my energies out in the wrong way, because I was giving it too much importance. It was taking over my very being. It took me three years to understand my true strength. During that phase, I was not working. I was refusing the work coming my way and many people thought that I was either not interested, or that I was too arrogant and selective. However, the real reason was that I didn’t find anything interesting.”

She added, “I started off with the best film, but unfortunately, my career didn’t shape up as expected, because while work came to me in abundance, it wasn’t the kind that I wanted to do. Unfortunately, in this industry, you are forgotten if you are not seen. I wish I had adhered to the rules of the industry at that time. However, this is how I’ve always been. I will never take on anything if I am not convinced about it. Even with the films that I chose, it’s not like I didn’t make mistakes, but I learnt from them and moved on. Today, I feel that I was way too selective. I wish I had done a little more work, but it was too late by the time I realised it.”

Even though her film career did not shape up the way she had expected, but she is doing well on the TV front. She participated in popular reality shows like Bigg Boss, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and the recent Khatron Ke Khiladi. She is also open to doing a fiction show.  “I think I am done with reality shows. I might take up a TV show, but not the ones that run indefinitely. I can’t see myself playing the same part for four years,” she said to the daily.