Before retiring from acting, Namrata Shirodkar was a well-known star in Bollywood and even made an appearance in Hollywood. She starred alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Bride and Prejudice and was considered for a role in Mistress of Spices by Gurinder Chadha, though the project didn’t materialize. Despite being offered bold roles during her career, Namrata turned them down due to her discomfort with intimate scenes.
In an interview in 2004, Namrata explained that she refused many of the roles that required her to perform intimate scenes. She stated, “I am not comfortable doing such stuff. I wouldn’t exchange kisses or make love on screen. I am not desperate.” Coming from a secure background, she remained selective in the roles she accepted, often choosing projects that aligned with her values.
Even before she retired, Namrata was careful about the number of films she signed. She consciously limited herself to one or two films a year, ensuring her acting potential was fully realized in each project. By 2005, Namrata had decided to step away from films, taking on her last role in Rok Sako To Rok Lo, released in 2004.
In 2005, Namrata Shirodkar retired from acting after marrying Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu. In a 2022 interview, Namrata shared that her decision to leave films was based on her husband’s preference for her to stop working, regardless of the industry. She emphasized that Mahesh’s desire for her to quit wasn’t due to the film industry but because he didn’t want a working wife, even if she had been in a corporate role.
Although Namrata left acting, she hasn’t completely distanced herself from the film industry. In 2022, she made a comeback as a producer for the film Major. She has since settled in Hyderabad, focusing on her family and occasional production projects.
