Shilpa Shirodkar recalls working as a hairdresser in New Zealand after getting married, leaving Bollywood: ‘I was SSC fail but I put that in my resume’ |
After leaving films in 2000, Shilpa Shirodkar built a new life abroad—first as a hairdresser in New Zealand, then in a corporate job. In a candid chat on MaaaNoranjan, she shared how marriage, work, and motherhood reshaped her journey, proving that life after stardom can be just as meaningful.In a candid conversation on MaaaNoranjan with Gauahar Khan, Shilpa reflected on her life in New Zealand after stepping away from films. To stay creatively engaged, she pursued a course in hairdressing—drawn to its connection with the world of beauty and performance. She even worked briefly at a salon, embracing a new chapter of reinvention far removed from the Bollywood spotlight.The actress also spoke about how balancing her new marriage with a demanding salon job became challenging. With her husband working weekdays and her schedule packed on weekends, the couple had little time together. Realizing the importance of nurturing their relationship in those early years, she eventually chose to step away from the job and focus on building their life together.After stepping away from salon work, Shilpa wasn’t ready to sit idle. When her husband asked what she planned to do next, she surprised him by asking him to make her a resume—honestly listing everything from her film work to the fact that she hadn’t completed her SSC. What began as a light-hearted experiment turned into a real turning point: she applied for a few jobs just for fun and, in a twist worthy of a movie scene, returned home the same day with two appointment letters in hand. She eventually took a job but soon found out she was pregnant.She eventually joined Dun & Bradstreet as a credit controller, stepping into a corporate role far removed from her film career. One day, after casually mentioning to a friend that she was constantly tired and experiencing acidity, the friend suggested she might be pregnant. Though she laughed it off at first, a pregnancy test confirmed the unexpected news. Her husband’s reaction was pure joy, and in that moment, everything changed. Their journey into parenthood had begun, marking yet another new chapter in Shilpa’s evolving life beyond the screen.Despite facing significant health challenges during her pregnancy, she continued working without slowing down. She was on insulin multiple times a day, experienced drastic weight loss, and constantly carried the scent of cocoa butter—but for her, it was still a joyful and deeply fulfilling experience. She looks back on that time as one of the most special chapters of her life.After the birth of her daughter Anushka, Shilpa Shirodkar stepped away from work to focus fully on motherhood, choosing to be a hands-on, full-time mom.
