Shamita Shetty on debut film Mohabbatein, setbacks after release: 'Films with Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan never released'

Shamita Shetty’s journey in Bollywood has been anything but straightforward. Despite a dream debut in Mohabbatein alongside stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, her path was soon marred by setbacks, unreleased projects, and constant comparisons with her elder sister, Shilpa Shetty. Years later, Shamita is opening up about the struggles, lost opportunities, and her eventual journey toward self-assurance and individuality.In conversation with Pinkvilla, Shamita revealed that shortly after her debut, she had completed four films with stars like Sanjay Dutt, Chandrachur Singh, and R. Madhavan — but none of them released. The setbacks, she told Pinkvilla, derailed her career at a crucial stage and broke her initial momentum.The actress' most recent outing, The Tenant, also struggled to find its footing. After multiple delays, the film finally released in a handful of theatres with minimal marketing, and as a result, went largely unnoticed despite her hopes for a fair platform. The actress shared that she continues to actively approach filmmakers and casting directors for substantial roles, stressing that there is no shame in expressing her eagerness to work — a reflection of both her resilience and determination.When asked if comparisons with her elder sister ever bothered her, Shamita admitted they once did, though not anymore. She shared that growing up under the shadow of Shilpa’s success made it difficult to carve out her own identity. While Shilpa was seen as the 'Holy Cow,' Shamita was often labelled the brat. The actress recalled how this created inner turmoil, leaving her unsure of who she was supposed to be.She also admitted that the identity struggle lingered through much of her childhood. But with time, she learned to embrace her individuality. Today, she feels confident and assured about who she is, adding that comparisons with her sister no longer affect her.Shamita further reflected that as a child, she rarely voiced how the comparisons with her sister affected her. With time, however, she has come to see such parallels as pointless. She believes every individual is unique, even within the same family, and describes herself and Shilpa as having very different personalities and strengths.