Shweta Basu Prasad spends day off mastering the sitar
Synopsis
Away from the camera, Shweta Basu Prasad is chasing a different kind of mastery — the sitar. The National Award winner, currently part of Maharani Season 4, shared a candid video of her practising the classical instrument on a day off, offering a rare window into the off-screen life of one of Bollywood's most versatile actresses.
Key Takeaways
Shweta Basu Prasad shared a video practising the sitar on her day off from shoot.
She won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for her debut film Makdee ( 2002 ), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj .
Her career spans acclaimed films including Iqbal ( 2005 ) and web series such as Criminal Justice , Jubilee , and Tribhuvan Mishra: CA Topper .
She made her directorial debut with the short film Retake in 2023 .
Her latest project is Maharani Season 4 , a political drama by Subhash Kapoor starring Huma Qureshi .
Actress Shweta Basu Prasad has offered fans a glimpse into her off-screen life, revealing that she dedicates her days away from the shoot to practising the sitar. The 35-year-old actress shared a video of herself playing the plucked stringed instrument — which took its present form in 19th-century India — along with a series of photographs posing with it.
"Day off from shoot = practice Sitar all day (as much as I can)," she wrote as the caption on the post, giving followers an intimate look at her passion for classical music.
A Career Rooted in Acclaimed Cinema
Shweta made her Bollywood debut in 2002 with the film Makdee, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film, which revolved around a young girl's encounter with an alleged witch in a haunted mansion in northern India, earned her the National Film Award for Best Child Artist — a recognition that announced her as a formidable talent at a remarkably young age.
She followed that with the critically acclaimed Iqbal in 2005, before transitioning to adult roles. Her performance in the Telugu film Kotha Bangaru Lokam in 2008 marked a significant turning point in her career.
A Versatile Presence Across Film and OTT
Over the years, Shweta has built a diverse filmography spanning multiple languages and formats. Her film credits include The Tashkent Files, Shukranu, Serious Men, and India Lockdown. On the OTT front, she has drawn praise for her work in web series including Criminal Justice, Jubilee, and Tribhuvan Mishra: CA Topper.
In 2023, she expanded her creative horizons further by making her directorial debut with the short film Retake.
Latest Project: Maharani Season 4
Shweta's most recent work is the fourth season of Maharani, a political drama created by Subhash Kapoor, in which Huma Qureshi portrays the title character Rani Bharti. The series is partly inspired by events in Bihar in the 1990s, when political leader Lalu Prasad Yadav reportedly installed his homemaker wife Rabri Devi as his successor.
Season 4 expands the narrative beyond Bihar state politics into a high-stakes power struggle in Delhi, raising the dramatic and political stakes considerably. With Shweta's involvement in a project of this scale alongside her ongoing commitment to classical music, she continues to demonstrate range both on screen and off it.
Point of View
She represents a strand of Bollywood talent that invests in craft beyond the camera. At a time when celebrity social media is dominated by promotional content, a candid video of a working actress practising a centuries-old instrument stands out — and says something about how she defines her identity outside the industry.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Shweta Basu Prasad in the news today?
Shweta Basu Prasad shared a video of herself practising the sitar on a day off from her shoot, along with photographs posing with the instrument. Her caption read: "Day off from shoot = practice Sitar all day (as much as I can)."
What is Shweta Basu Prasad's most recent project?
Her most recent work is Maharani Season 4, a political drama by Subhash Kapoor in which Huma Qureshi plays the lead character Rani Bharti. The season expands the story from Bihar politics to a high-stakes power struggle in Delhi.
What National Award did Shweta Basu Prasad win?
Shweta Basu Prasad won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for her performance in the 2002 film Makdee, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film centred on a young girl's encounter with an alleged witch in a haunted mansion in northern India.
When did Shweta Basu Prasad make her directorial debut?
Shweta Basu Prasad made her directorial debut in 2023 with the short film Retake, marking a significant expansion of her role in the film industry beyond acting.
What is the sitar and why is it significant?
The sitar is a plucked stringed instrument that arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. It is one of the most recognised instruments in Hindustani classical music and has been popularised globally through artists like Ravi Shankar.
