From ‘Surabhi’ to ‘Tribhanga’, Indian icon Renuka Shahane opens up about her journey

Renuka Shahane is one of the icons of Indian television. Till today, the actor, director and erstwhile morning show host is one of the most recognised and beloved celebrities in India.

She started her career with the Marathi film Hach Sunbaicha Bhau in the 1980s and worked with Shah Rukh Khan in the TV series Circus. She became a household name as one of the anchors on the Hindi-language morning show Surabhi on Doordarshan, India's state TV channel and her role in the superhit Hum Aapke Hain Koun propelled her further into the spotlight.

Her latest venture is the Indian family drama film Tribhanga, which she has both written and directed. It was released on Netflix on January 15, 2021. The Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar starrer revolves around a dysfunctional family of three women and their unconventional life choices.

Renuka said she realised when pitching the movie to production houses all over the world that it was very rooted in India.

"The lives and the choices that the characters make are so Indian. Though they have a modern outlook, their core I think is very, very Indian," Renuka said. 

In this exclusive interview with Connected to India, Renuka opens up to Daisy Irani Subaiah. Talking about her entry into films, shifting to direction, her directorial debut, working with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and her latest woman-centric superhit Tribhanga.