Shubhangi Atre on exiting Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai: I’m ending this replacement game with Shilpa Shinde now - Exclusive

Shubhangi Atre’s journey as Angoori Bhabhi has officially come to an end. After nearly 10 years on Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, the actress has exited the show as makers Binaiferr and Sanjay Kohli bring back the original Angoori, Shilpa Shinde. Shubhangi shot her final episode last week and says she walks away with “nothing but gratitude”.

‘I see it as a blessing in disguise’
She says, “I always promised Mrs Kohli that my journey in the show would start with aan, baan aur shaan and that is exactly how it would end too. I could not have asked for a better exit. There is no point delving into the reasons for the replacement. I see it as a blessing in disguise because as an artiste, I want to explore new characters. The idea is to step out of here and start looking for work again. After seeing so much in life, I am in fighter mode now and focused only on my daughter and my work.”


Saying goodbye to a show she had been part of for ten years was deeply emotional. She shares, “It definitely felt like leaving home. I became extremely emotional in the last few days of the shoot. The character had become a part of me. I feel immense gratitude because this show has given me everything.”

‘I am grateful that viewers accepted me with so much love’
Shubhangi took up this role in 2016 after Shilpa Shinde quit. Recounting that time, she says, “Replacing someone is never easy. When you create a character from scratch, you shape it through your own personality and experiences. But when you take on a role that already exists, you have to retain the nuances without making it seem like a copy and still build your own connection with the audience. I am grateful that viewers accepted me with so much love. In the end, I am satisfied that I did my work with honesty and dedication. I am grateful to the channel, the producers, and the entire unit. I will miss the technicians a lot because of my bond with each one of them..”

‘I wish Shilpa all the very best’
In a curious twist of history, this is not the first time Shubhangi has taken on a character previously played by Shilpa. In Chidiya Ghar, she had stepped into the role of Koyal Narayan before Shilpa returned to it later. Shubhangi laughs, “I just want to say that I am ending this replacement game now. I told my mum that Shilpa left the show in nine to ten months, so it felt like she handed me a newborn baby. I raised that baby for ten years and now I am returning it to her. I gave it values and sanskars, and I am passing it back with a full heart. I wish Shilpa all the very best and also the entire team for the 2.0 version of the show. She is a fantastic actor, and I am genuinely fond of her.”

‘When I looked at the walls and my room, it hit me that ten years is a long time’
Speaking about wrapping up after nearly ten years on the show, Shubhangi shares how overwhelming it has been to pack up a decade of memories and leave a space that had become home. She says, “I have so many personal belongings on set. On the last day of my shoot, I asked my EP how long I would have to vacate because there was just so much to pack. They told me they would lock my room so I could take my time, which was very thoughtful. It has been a very emotional journey. When I looked at the walls and my room, it hit me that ten years is a long time. You get so attached to a character that it becomes a part of you. I will miss the entire unit because the bond we shared was truly special.”


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