Shamita isn’t in the mood for games. When one user had the gall to make fun of her age and wonder why she was still single, the actor let him have it on Instagram Stories. Her parting shot – Aapne shaadi karke kya ukhaad liya hai bhai? – was the kind of zinger that made for some good reading and started a debate or two.
The comment that crossed a line
You could say it all started with Pankaj Mittal, as Shamita put it, and a rather condescending remark: ‘Aapki age ho gayi hai pehle wali baat nahi rahi.’ She put his words out there for everyone to see, in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t be having it.
He wasn’t done, following up with, ‘Agar shaadi time par kar leti toh aapke bache aaj bade ho gaye hote.’ That was enough for the 47-year-old to put her foot down and ask what gives some strangers the right to preach about marriage and timelines to women on the internet.
How Shetty framed her answer
Instead of letting the age thing go, she made a point of it. ‘Apki age ho gayi hai pehle wali baat nahi rahi: Yes I will look different. Things change with time it’s the natural way of life… nothing stays forever including physical appearance! BUT for my age I’m healthy, fit and happy with a grateful heart for all that the almighty has given me… n that’s all that matters to me.’
As for the marriage bit, she was as clear as day: ‘Agar shaadi time par kar leti to aapke bache aaj bade ho gaye hote: Toh? Yes u stated the obvious… so? Aapne shaadi karke kya ukhaad liya hai bhai?’ She didn’t mince words about the whole male-centric, cave-man way of thinking, and put it to rest with: 'Please do me a favour and unfollow me pronto!‘
Put simply, here is where she stands:
– You can’t stop the clock; you’ll look a little different down the road.
– Being in good shape and thankful is what counts, not how you look.
– Don’t measure a life by whether you’re married or not.
– If you’re going to be a troll, feel free to hit the unfollow button.
Why the internet paid attention
It didn’t come off as some typical starlet lashing out. It was more of a course correction. Folks were quick to commend her for turning the tables on the kind of snark single women are used to putting up with behind the scenes.
There is an undercurrent of annoyance with the fact that we still hold women to some hard-and-fast schedule for getting tied down and having kids. With a simple ‘so?’, Shamita put a dent in the notion that you have to check off certain boxes to be of any value.
Beyond the post: where Shamita is now
These days you won’t see her on screen as often; she’s put in some time with interior design. You may remember her from Mohabbatein, Zeher, Bewafaa, Cash, or from her time on Bigg Boss 15, Khatron Ke Khiladi 9 and Jhalaka Dikhhla Jaa 8.
Her most recent role was in The Tenant. But the story of the week was on social media, where she opted to be forthright and made something of an ugly comment into a lesson for us all.
