It is hard not to be bowled over by Shilpa Shetty’s breathtaking smile, as she saunters in dressed up in a Banarasi silk sari, replete with giant jhumkas and flowers around her hair. She is the embodiment of all things graceful and elegant, as she sits down to talk with us. From being a hit ’90s actress to the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 5 to writing her own book, Shilpa Shetty Kundra has done it all. With a passion for wellness and health, this high-profile actress even launched her own yoga channel called the Shilpa Shetty Channel. After having authored her award-winning book, The Great Indian Diet in 2015, she went onto write a second book, titled The Diary of a Domestic Diva, in January 2018.
“The Diary of a Domestic Diva was born out of a need to help other women,” says the 42-year-old. “There are women who find it difficult to make food from scratch because there is no time. A woman’s job is never easy, and we do everything around the house and outside the house. I just want to help women with juggling chores by making really easy dishes.” The book brings 50 of her most special recipes that have been passed down through generations in the Shetty family. “If you read the book, you’ll see that there are recipes from my mother, aunt and grandmother. Although, I wouldn’t know where to start from, for my grandmother’s recipes — they are really hard! (Laughs.) I even have a recipe from my nanny who used to make this divine coconut cake which I fell in love with. It’s basically a whole lot of soul food.” The book shares hassle-free methods of cooking healthy and nutritious — some of which are favourites in the Shetty-Kundra household.
In the city to attend the Jito Connect 2018 event , the actor spoke about women empowerment and the way society conditions them to act in a certain way. “I come from a background and a community where women are already so empowered, so the words woman and empowerment are repetitive, because for me, women and empowerment mean the same. We are conditioned by the society to look after other people, instead of looking after ourselves. And, it comes to a point, where women become apologetic about taking time out for their own interests. Who are we to discuss women empowerment when between man and woman, God himself chose women to be the giver of life?”