Shehnaaz Gill is taking a pragmatic view of one of the high-profile Hindi film projects that failed to materialise.
The actor was announced as one of the four leads in filmmaker Sajid Khan’s 100% several years ago. The proposed ensemble cast also included John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh and Nora Fatehi. Despite the initial announcement, the project did not eventually come together.
Rather than dwelling on the shelved film, Shehnaaz says she has learned not to become too emotionally invested in projects until they are actually completed.
Shehnaaz Gill Says Shelved Projects Can Sometimes Be for the Best
Speaking about 100%, Shehnaaz said she does not take such developments too seriously and believes some projects are better left unrealised.
“Main utna serious leti nahin hun in cheezon ko. Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki nahin hui, achha hua, kyunki kuch cheezein nahin banne mein hi bhalai hoti hai.”
She also explained why she prefers not to discuss projects too much before they are finished. According to the actor, circumstances can change at any stage, and public expectations can become difficult to manage when a film eventually does not happen.
She said she would rather wait until a project is completed and ready before speaking extensively about it.
Shehnaaz Gill on Getting Paid and Being Respected
The actor also spoke candidly about another issue she has experienced during her career: working without payment out of respect for personal or professional relationships.
Shehnaaz said accepting appropriate remuneration is important not simply because of the money involved, but because it affects how an artist and their work are perceived.
“Jab tum apni mehnat ke paise lete ho, wo bahut important hai aur agar tum wo nahin loge, to tumhari aur tumhare kaam ki izzat nahin hogi.”
She added that she had encountered situations involving unpaid work, including music videos, but eventually realised that setting boundaries was necessary.
“No one will take you seriously and it has happened in many music videos before. But after a point, you have to say no kyunki paise ki baat nahin, izzat ki baat hai.”
For Shehnaaz, the issue is therefore tied to professional value and respect rather than compensation alone.
Shehnaaz Wants More Impactful Roles in Hindi Cinema
Shehnaaz’s most recent Hindi theatrical release mentioned in the interview was Thank You For Coming, which arrived in 2023.
While she has continued to receive substantial opportunities in Punjabi cinema, she acknowledged that her Hindi-film roles have not always offered the same scope.
Asked whether that was one reason she had not locked another Hindi film, Shehnaaz said she was waiting for characters that could make a stronger impact.
“Mujhe impactful role hi nahin mile. Jo bhi roles maine kiye, wo impactful nahin the.”
She said she subsequently reflected on the kind of work she wanted to choose and decided that the language of a project should not be the deciding factor.
Instead, she wants to assess opportunities based on the strength and impact of the role.
Singh vs Kaur 2 Gave Shehnaaz a New Perspective
Shehnaaz was recently seen in the Punjabi film Singh vs Kaur 2 alongside Gippy Grewal. Working on the project also gave her an opportunity to learn from her co-star and develop an interest in filmmaking.
Shehnaaz said people around her had suggested that she could potentially become a good director. However, she believes directing requires more than an interest in the craft.
According to the actor, leadership ability and talent are both essential for taking on the responsibility of directing a film.
Will Shehnaaz Gill Become a Director?
For now, Shehnaaz appears to be keeping directing as a possibility for much later in her career.
With a laugh, she suggested that she could consider stepping behind the camera when she is around 50 or 60 years old.
Her comments suggest that while acting remains her primary focus, her experience on film sets is also encouraging her to think about other aspects of filmmaking.
For the moment, however, Shehnaaz appears more interested in finding roles that offer her meaningful and impactful work—regardless of whether those opportunities come from Hindi or Punjabi cinema.
