If I am being judged, it reflects on the person who is judging me and not who I am, says Shweta Basu Prasad

Rashita Sahni

Actor Shweta Basu Prasad, who separated from her filmmaker husband Rohit Mittal just months after their wedding in December 2018, opened up about facing society’s judgment and her personal life being under constant public scrutiny. In an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal, she said that while the hatred could affect some people and leave a harmful impact, she never has low days as she shuts all the negativity out.

When asked if social media negativity or scandalous media reports ever lead to low days, Shweta firmly said, “I mind my own business and what people say is not my problem. If I am being judged, it reflects the person who is judging me and not who I am. I am a human being and I choose to do this.

I have a very solid support system, through my mom, my family and my friends and amazing people that I collaborate with and I work with, and I’m so happy with my choices of people that I associate with because I am learning and growing every day. And if somebody is gonna turn around and judge that, I don’t think the society is ever gonna stop. Yes, it can affect and have an impact. But no girl, wear your lipstick and shine. If somebody is judging you then let it be. So no, I don’t have any low days.”

She further added, “I don’t explain myself. Why should I? I have chosen to be in this line where I know I am going to be in front of the camera, not just when I’m acting, but also in my life. I know my personal life will be discussed, and I know what I put on social media will be seen and shared multifolds as compared to any other girl from my school or from my vicinity. I want to wear nice clothes, wear good makeup, and post certain kind of photos. I can’t complain if somebody’s looking at me and sharing my photos.

I also want my life to be out there and people to discuss me. So I can’t be like ‘but don’t discuss that’. Of course, they are going to discuss my personal life. So I have chosen this life with everything and I also think it's my privilege that I’ve grown up around this. I remember after Iqbal, my 10th class grades were discussed in the media. So you know what I was doing was in school was discussed in press conferences of Iqbal and Makdee and what I was doing in films was discussed in school. So, I don’t really care. All I care about is the work that I do.”

On the work front, Shweta is currently seen in JioHotstar show Oops! Ab Kya. The series also stars Sonali Kulkarni, Abhay Mahajan and Aashim Gulati and is based on Roohi (Shweta Basu Prasad), a young hotel Duty Manager whose life spirals into chaos after an artificial insemination mix-up leaves her pregnant.