In a candid chat with The Pioneer, National Award-winning actress Manasi Parekh opens up about her new film Shubhchintak, a genre-bending dark comedy thriller that challenges norms and expectations in Gujarati cinema. From playing the emotionally layered role of Meghna to co-producing the film with husband Parthiv Gohil, she also reflects on storytelling, growth in regional cinema and working alongside Marathi superstar Swapnil Joshi
Tejal Sinha
tejal.sinha30@gmail.com
National Award-winning actress and producer Manasi Parekh has long been a dynamic force in Indian cinema, effortlessly bridging the worlds of Gujarati and Hindi films. With her latest venture Shubhchintak, she not only takes on a powerful lead role but also continues her mission to elevate Gujarati cinema to new creative heights. A dark comedy thriller packed with emotion, suspense and high-caliber storytelling, the film showcases Manasi in a dual avatar—both as the fiercely driven Meghna and the glamorous, daring Maya. In this exclusive conversation, Manasi dives deep into the heart of Shubhchintak, reflects on the emotional resonance of the story, the thrill of experimenting with bold genres and the exciting collaborations that make this project one to watch.
For her, the title Shubhchintak, which means “well-wisher,” holds deep personal resonance. “Yes, I’m very blessed to have a lot of Shubhchintaks in my life,” she shares warmly. “People who wish well for me and are always there whenever I need them. Their wishes and prayers for my well-being are like a cherry on the cake in my journey of life.”
Calling Shubhchintak an “absolute family film,” the Kutch Express star says it’s a complete entertainer that balances thrills with strong emotional stakes. “It’s an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Every second of the film is packed with so much that you will not take your eyes off it,” she promises. “Audiences can expect a complete time freeze where they won’t even realise where their two hours went.” At the heart of the story is Meghna, a woman grappling with a tragic injustice. “She has lost her brother in a bridge collapse. He was wrongly framed as corrupt, completely contrary to who he really was. When the legal system fails her, she decides to take justice into her own hands.” This emotional trajectory is what drives the film’s narrative, with Meghna’s quest for justice forming its powerful core.
Manasi is confident that Shubhchintak will contribute meaningfully to the upward trajectory of Gujarati cinema. “After Kutch Express won three national awards, we realised the sky is the limit for our language. With Shubhchintak, we’ve pushed the bar in every department—script, visuals, performance and production value.”
The team spent almost a year developing the script. While the film is in Gujarati, the scale and treatment are designed to match the highest standards of Indian cinema. “Our aim is to get non-Gujarati audiences to watch the film and realise that Gujarati cinema is extremely compelling too.”
The emotional undertones of the film struck a deep chord with Manasi. “The challenges that Meghna faces, the hardships she endures to avenge her brother’s death—these are things I relate to. I’m also someone who can go to any length to protect my family.”
She adds that the film explores a morally complex theme: “There’s a very thin boundary between revenge and justice. The big question the film asks is: what is the right path? Is revenge the answer, or should one fight for justice? When you watch the film, you’ll find that answer.”
Shubhchintak is not just a thriller—it’s a dark comedy, a genre rarely seen in Gujarati cinema. “That is our aim with every film Parthiv and I are producing,” the Uri: The Surgical Strike actress says, referring to her producer-husband Parthiv Gohil. “We are exploring new genres. Golkeri was romance, Kutch Express was a social drama, Jhamkudi was a horror comedy and now Shubhchintak is a thriller. With each project, we’re upping our scale of production and packaging.” One of the most challenging aspects of Shubhchintak for Manasi was playing Meghna, who leads a double life. “On one hand, Meghna is a simple, middle-class girl—unglamorous, grounded. But when she transforms into Maya, a woman who honey-traps a man, she has to be seductive, glamorous and step completely out of her comfort zone,” she explains.
Maintaining consistency while portraying both sides of the character was no easy feat. “Even while being glamorous, she carries traces of her middle-class body language and diction. That complexity had to be constantly maintained while performing.”
Moreover, Manasi performed her own stunts for the film—another first in her career. “That was definitely challenging and new for me,” she adds. Having observed audience patterns closely, Manasi believes viewers are now more open to experimenting with fresh genres in regional films. “Earlier, Gujarati films were mostly family comedies. After a point, that genre becomes repetitive. Now, audiences are exposed to so much content on OTT, they need something extraordinary—both in concept and execution—to stay engaged.”
She has a clear vision of what she hopes the audience takes away from Shubhchintak. “The first thought I want them to have is, ‘Oh my god, is it over already?’ That’s how gripping it should feel. And I want them to say, ‘I can’t believe this was a Gujarati film.’ It should look and feel like a very well-made Bollywood film.” Having worked in both Hindi and Gujarati industries, Manasi offers an insightful comparison. “Hindi cinema has a much wider reach and audience. But sometimes the authenticity is lost when regional stories are adapted into Hindi,” she points out. “When a film is made in the region it originates from—like Gujarati in our case—there’s more honesty in character, humour and language. Plus, regional cinema allows for more experimentation.”
She acknowledges Gujarati cinema is still growing, but the trajectory is highly encouraging. “The way audiences are embracing Gujarati films now, it’s only going to get better.”
The film also marks the Gujarati debut of Marathi superstar Swapnil Joshi. Reflecting on her experience with him, Manasi is all praise. “He’s been acting since he was a child—he has over 45 years of experience. And yet, he’s so energetic, so positive, so grounded. He’s delivered such a powerful, impactful performance in Shubhchintak that audiences will want more and more of him. Trust me.” Balancing the creative and logistical aspects of filmmaking is a challenge, but Manasi and Parthiv have found their rhythm. “I handle the production from scripting to the shoot and Parthiv manages everything after the film is made—distribution, OTT deals and international sales,” she explains.
When she’s acting in a film they’re producing, she ensures her production responsibilities are wrapped before she steps into character. “On set, I am only an actor. We hire people who are good at what they do so I’m not overburdened during the shoot.”
