Shefali Shah Expresses Desire to Shoot in Lucknow During Her First Visit

Acclaimed actor Shefali Shah recently visited Lucknow for the first time and was all praise for the city’s charm, culture, and warmth. Attending the Rise and Roar event organized by FICCI FLO Lucknow Chapter, Shah expressed her keen interest in shooting a film in the City of Nawabs.

Sharing her first impressions of the state capital, she remarked, “This is my first visit to Lucknow, and I found the city very clean and beautiful. The tagline 'Muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain' fits so well, as the people here are such that after you meet them and experience their soft-spoken nature and kind treatment, you can't help but greet them with a smile. Incidentally, I haven't had any films or shows set here yet, but I would surely like to come and shoot here, which would enable me to explore the city and experience its culture.”

The event was hosted by FICCI FLO Lucknow Chapter to welcome the new chairperson, Vandita Agarwal, in the presence of past chair Swati Verma and several notable members including Simran Sahni, Devanshi Seth, Shama Gupta, Mitali Oswal, Smriti Garg, and Vasudha Jain.

During a candid interaction, Shah spoke about her personal journey and humble beginnings. “I was born and brought up in Mumbai. My mother is a doctor, and my father worked at a humble post with the Reserve Bank of India. I come from a humble background, but I am an extremely lucky and privileged daughter because of my parents,” she shared.

Interestingly, Shah revealed that acting was never her initial ambition. “I wanted to be an air hostess; I even wanted to be a surgeon, but I wasn't fond of studies. I am a trained dancer, and I used to sing, but acting was nowhere in my mind. It happened incidentally and organically. I started doing inter-college and Gujarati theatre. I was doing it every day and earning around ₹200 a day, so why not make it a profession?”

Addressing the gathering, she also emphasized the importance of equipping women with essential life skills. “Self-defence for women is the most important skill that everyone should acquire,” she stated firmly.

The actor’s visit and her admiration for Lucknow were warmly received, with many hoping her next project will indeed bring her back to the city—not just as a guest, but as a performer capturing its beauty on screen.