Shefali Shah Was Once Shamed For Looking "Real": "TV Pe To Achhi Lagti Hai"

Shefali Shah said she was happy that at least this time, she was given a "choice of ambiguity"

Shefali Shah has addressed the never-ending debate of reel vs real appearances in her latest Instagram post. The actress started the lengthy post with her recent flight experience and how she was told by an air hostess that she “looks different in-person”. She also spoke about an incident of “ridiculous lack of decency,” where a person told her, “TV pe toh achi lagti hai (you look better on television).” With this, Shefali Shah also asserted that she is “not a mannequin, nor a painting” but “as real as one can be.” The actress has shared that many times, people have been “judgemental” or have “reprimanded” her for being in her own skin, like she has “cheated” them. 

Shefali Shah shared a photo of herself from a flight and wrote: “The air hostess sweetly took my breakfast order and suggested I don't keep anything on the side on my seat cause it can slip into the crevices. I've lost many things, having not taken the advice in the past. I'm grateful for her kind advice and I did listen. She came back, I thought to reinstate the swallowing capacity of my seat but no. She came to appreciate my work and it was so heartwarming and wonderful to hear. She left me smiling to return yet again. This time to say- ‘Me and the other crew didn't even recognise you. You look so different than you do on screen, but love your work.' smiled and left. The ‘But' planted a seed of doubt. Don't know if what I saw in her eyes was appreciation, compassion, or sympathy.”

“She almost seemed sorry for me. Not saying but meaning ‘must be so deceiving and disappointing to look like someone and be appreciated for it but then in life waking up with your real self.' She came back with my breakfast and served me very sweetly. Ever smiling. She wasn't mean at all, she just seemed genuinely concerned at my genetics and awed by my makeup and hair artist's magical expertise,” added the actress. 

Shefali Shah said she was happy that at least this time, she was given a “choice of ambiguity,” where she could interpret the air hostess' statement in any way she “wished.”