Shamita open to challenging roles, not item songs

Mumbai: Actress Shamita Shetty, known for her performances in films like "Mohabbatein" and "Zeher", says she will not do item numbers again in movies.

The actress, who did hit raunchy numbers like "Sharara Sharara" from "Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai" (2001) and "Chori Pe Chori" in "Saathiya" (2002), said she hates the tag of item girl.

"I am tired of saying no to item songs. I don't want to be known as an item number girl. Fortunately, we actors get tagged easily. I have been offered various item songs earlier," she told PTI.

Shamita made her Bollywood debut in 2000 with the Yash Raj Films' blockbuster "Mohabbatein", which was directed by Aditya Chopra.

"I am looking to do something that challenges me as an actor. Now people are experimenting with various roles and subjects. I am open to doing everything. I don't want to do a film where I am just a show piece," Shamita said.

"If there is fantastic character that comes my way which will shine either ways, then I am open to doing supportive roles as well. I don't want to restrict myself," she added.

During her ten-year long career as an actress she also worked in a few Tamil and Telugu films but Shamita is not happy with the quantity of work she has done.

"I have barely done something in my career. I was happy with the work I did, but I was not happy with the amount of work that I did. I believe I deserve something better. People needed to see and recognise my talent, but I did not get an opportunity for that," she said.

Since she was not getting quality work, she shifted towards interior designing in 2011.

"I chose to stay away because I was not happy with the work that was offered to me. I did not want to waste my precious time by doing work just for the heck of it. I did not want to do anything just to be in limelight," Shamita said.

"The wait for good work kept getting longer, I chose to learn something new - interior designing. I started getting more work there. So people thought I quit acting, but that was never the case, I was still waiting for something good to come my way. Acting has always been my first passion and it will always be," she said

The actress also hopes that her stint in "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" would give her a new lease of life in Bollywood.

"I hope now I get to do something different. May be after this show ("Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa"), some offers might come my way," she said.