Post `Chak De`, Shilpa Shukhla hit a low phase after big films shelved

Mumbai: Actress Shilpa Shukla, who played Bindiya Naik in Shah Rukh Khan starrer `Chak De India`, says she was professionally devastated when her big films did not materialise post the success of the hockey movie.

"There was a phase, even after `Chak De India`, when professional frustrations like films getting shelved or delayed would take a toll on me. I had signed on many big films with big production houses but due to recession and 26/11 attacks, those projects couldn`t take off," Shilpa said. "I was frustrated. But I still kept hopes, thinking I would get good offers," she added. The 31-year-old revealed that she had got a big project offer from UTV Motion Pictures but later the part was given to an A-list actress. Shukla said she wanted to play Boxing champion Mary Kom on silver screen but it couldn`t happen and a film titled `Junction` with Abhay Deol also could not see the light of the day. "Though I was devastated but I never left the ray of hope, kept trying. I kept saying to myself all this will get over soon. I think the industry needs to be little more compassionate and giving," she said. Now Shilpa is looking forward to her forthcoming project `B.A Pass` where she plays a seductress. The film talks about male prostitution and Shilpa will be seen as Sarika Aunty in the movie. "I really wanted a role that was meaningful and had a complete life," she said. She has previously played a Pakistani school girl in `Khamosh Pani`, a hockey player in `Chak De India`, and a pickpocket in `Bhindi Baazaar Inc`. Debutant director Ajay Bahl`s screenplay is based on Mohan Sikka`s steamy short story `Railway Aunty` from the 2009 anthology Delhi Noir. An erotic human drama, `B.A Pass` will unfold the story of a small town boy who comes to Delhi to finish his college, but soon, is seduced by a mysterious married woman. "The film represents a lot of people. It shows the pressure that the youth has to go through to earn quick money and while doing that they don`t know what is right and wrong," she said. `B.A Pass` releases in theatres on June 21. PTI