Sep 15, 2026 1:10pm IST
Helly Shah: ‘Working in ‘Chumbak’ Made Me Feel I Have Evolved as an Actor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
At 30, Helly Shah has already spent 16 years in the industry. Her new show, “Chumbak,” reunites her with JD Majethia and Aatish Kapadia 14 years after they signed her as the lead of “Alaxmi Ka Super Parivaar.” Shah describes the project as a dream come true and says she had manifested an opportunity like this for herself.
About her reunion with Hats Off Productions, Shah says, “Being on sets with them feels like being home. I am glad that they could see Twinkle in me. I doubted I could pull this off. ‘Chumbak’ made me feel like I have evolved as an actor and can think of a new direction in my career.”
For Shah, the show also marks a departure from the kind of roles audiences have traditionally seen her play. She says, “So far, people have seen me as the girl-next-door. With ‘Chumbak,’ I am exploring comedy, a totally new genre.” Describing Twinkle, she says, “Twinkle is the daughter of a local don. She is delusional enough to think that she is the most sensible and wise person in this world. The idea was to make her annoying naivety lovable on screen, which was the trickiest part.”
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Despite her successful television career, Shah admits that making the transition to web series was not easy. “It is very easy to give up when you are not getting the kind of work you want. And when an opportunity of this kind chooses you, it feels like your talent is reaching the right stage.”
The actress had taken a long break from television in a conscious effort to move away from her bubbly, girl-next-door image. She explains, “I was overexposed with the number of daily soaps I did. I consciously wanted to stay away from it so that people could easily relate to the different characters I would play henceforth.”
Shah, who has also been exploring the Gujarati film industry, has two releases in 2025, “Surprise” and “Deda.” She is encouraged by the regional industry’s growth. “Good films are being made in the industry. It is growing bigger and big banners are excited to be associated with our films. This is a very positive development,” she says.
More than a decade after “Swaragini” aired, fan edits of the show continue to remain popular on social media. Shah’s chemistry with Varun Kapoor had struck a chord with audiences at a time when social media shipping was still a relatively new phenomenon.
Reflecting on the continued love for the show, she says, “People still shower so much love. It feels amazing. I enjoy watching those reels and edits. ‘Swaragini’ gave me the first taste of success as a TV actor. I understood what success truly means. I have great respect for the team and we are still in touch.”
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