Shilpa Shirodkar takes selfie lessons from daughter Anoushka
Synopsis
Shilpa Shirodkar's Instagram selfies came with a twist — they were vetted and approved by her daughter Anoushka. But the real headline was her candid confession on India's Best Dancer: she nearly starred in 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' opposite Shah Rukh Khan, lost the role over weight concerns, and the song went to Malaika Arora instead.
Key Takeaways
Shilpa Shirodkar posted Instagram selfies on 26 August , crediting daughter Anoushka Ranjit as her selfie coach.
The posts showed mother and daughter together, with one candid shot taken during a shopping trip.
Shilpa appeared on India's Best Dancer Season 5 in July as a guest.
She revealed she nearly featured in 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' opposite Shah Rukh Khan but lost the role after choreographer Farah Khan deemed her weight insufficient to reduce in 15 days .
The iconic song ultimately went to Malaika Arora .
Shilpa is known for Hum (1991) , Khuda Gawah (1992) , and Aankhen (1993) .
Actress Shilpa Shirodkar is getting a crash course in selfie-taking — and her teacher is none other than her daughter, Anoushka Ranjit. On Wednesday, 26 August, Shilpa shared a set of selfies on her official Instagram handle, captioning the post: 'Learning to take selfies from the daughter and she approves this, hence posted!' — complete with a winking face and red heart emoji.
The Mother-Daughter Moment
The photos showed Shilpa looking relaxed and breezy in baggy denim and a brown jacket. Alongside solo clicks, she also posted a candid selfie with Anoushka. One particularly charming still captured Anoushka browsing footwear at a shop while Shilpa was busy angling her phone for the perfect shot — a role reversal that clearly delighted her followers.
Recent Television Appearance
Beyond social media, Shilpa Shirodkar — best known as a Bigg Boss 18 contestant — made a guest appearance on dance reality show India's Best Dancer Season 5 in July. During the episode, she opened up about a career moment that has stayed with her for decades.
The 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' Story She Never Told Before
Shilpa revealed that she had nearly been part of one of Bollywood's most iconic songs, 'Chaiyya Chaiyya', opposite Shah Rukh Khan — but lost the opportunity due to her weight at the time. Choreographer Farah Khan, she recounted, offered her 15 days to lose weight before a final decision.
Shilpa recalled: 'Yes, actually Farah had come with the song and she said, 'This is the song, but I will give you 15 days. Reduce your weight.' So I ate boiled vegetables for 15 days. But I might have lost weight, but it wasn't less as per Farah. So she came back and said, 'sorry, but you're still fat. We can't take you for the song,' and then the song happened with Malaika (Arora). I mean, I'm not lying. I was fat, so I didn't get the song and Farah says, I was 100 kilos. I wasn't 100 kilos.'
The iconic number ultimately featured Malaika Arora, and went on to become one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated sequences.
A Career Rooted in the 1990s
Shilpa built her reputation through a string of notable films in the 1990s, including Hum (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), and Aankhen (1993). Her candid recollections and active social media presence have renewed interest in her journey — from a leading actress of that era to a relatable, self-deprecating personality online today.
With Anoushka now doubling as her selfie coach, Shilpa appears to be embracing a new chapter — one filtered through her daughter's approval.
Point of View
But the 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' disclosure is the real story — and it surfaces something the industry rarely examines openly: how body-weight judgements shaped casting decisions in 1990s Bollywood. Shilpa's matter-of-fact retelling, neither bitter nor sensationalised, is precisely why it lands. That she can laugh about it on a dance reality show three decades later says as much about how the conversation around body image in Hindi cinema has shifted — however slowly — as it does about her own equanimity.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shilpa Shirodkar post selfies on Instagram?
Shilpa Shirodkar shared a set of selfies on her Instagram handle on 26 August, saying she was learning to take them from her daughter Anoushka Ranjit, who approved the photos before they were posted.
Who is Shilpa Shirodkar's daughter?
Shilpa Shirodkar's daughter is Anoushka Ranjit. She featured in the Instagram posts alongside her mother, including a candid shot taken during a shopping outing.
Why did Shilpa Shirodkar miss out on 'Chaiyya Chaiyya'?
Shilpa revealed on India's Best Dancer Season 5 that choreographer Farah Khan offered her 15 days to lose weight for the song. Despite eating only boiled vegetables, Farah felt she had not lost enough and the role went to Malaika Arora instead.
What did Shilpa Shirodkar say about Farah Khan's weight comment?
Shilpa recounted that Farah Khan told her she was 'still fat' after the 15-day effort and could not be taken for the song. Shilpa added that Farah has since claimed she weighed 100 kilos at the time, which Shilpa disputes.
What are Shilpa Shirodkar's most notable films?
Shilpa Shirodkar is best known for her work in 1990s Bollywood, including Hum (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), and Aankhen (1993). She was also a contestant on Bigg Boss 18.
