Veteran actress Renuka Shahane, known for her versatile performances across television and film, is gearing up for her latest project, ‘Dupahiya.’.
The upcoming series is a rural comedy where she plays a village pradhan. With a career spanning nearly four decades, Renuka has seamlessly transitioned from Marathi television to Bollywood and now digital platforms.
In a recent conversation with Hindustan Times, the actress reflected on her journey, career choices, and the impact of internet culture on her legacy. While discussing Dupahiya, she explained how the titular two-wheeler symbolizes aspirations for India’s lower-middle-class rural population. However, when asked about her own childhood dreams, Renuka revealed that she never harbored ambitions of becoming an actor. Instead, her primary aspiration was to become a mother, which she considers her most cherished role.
Renuka’s acting career began accidentally through theater, and over the years, she has become more selective about her projects. Balancing personal and professional responsibilities, she prioritizes roles that justify her time away from her family. She believes that factors like payout and meaningful storytelling influence her choices.
For many, Renuka Shahane remains synonymous with Surabhi, the iconic Doordarshan variety show she hosted. However, to younger audiences, she is best remembered as Pooja from ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun.’. The tragic scene where her character falls down the stairs has become a viral meme over the years. Rather than dismissing the internet’s humorous take on her work, Renuka embraces it as a form of “pop art” that evolves with each generation. She acknowledges that memes and digital trends play a crucial role in keeping actors relevant in today’s fast-paced entertainment industry.
Renuka candidly pointed out that society tends to overlook actors as they age, often failing to recognize their talent. She believes that memes and online discussions help sustain conversations about senior actors who might otherwise be forgotten. “These are the things that keep you alive in the conversations; otherwise, our society is so ageist. After a particular age, you don’t generally get the kind of attention that maybe your talent deserves. These memes and stuff keep you alive, “ said the actress.
With Dupahiya, Renuka Shahane is once again set to entertain audiences with her impeccable comic timing and strong screen presence. The series, which also stars Gajraj Rao, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Sparsh Srivastava, and Bhuvan Arora, is slated for release on March 7.