Before Golu Gupta, There Was Shaalu: Why Her Favourite Characters Always Love Reading!
For audiences, Golu Gupta’s fondness for books became a defining highlight of her personality in Mirzapur. Whether she was tucked away in a quiet corner with a novel or finding solace in the pages of literature, reading wasn’t merely a pastime for Golu—it actively shaped her perspective on life. What many fans might not realize is that long before stepping into Golu’s shoes, actor Shweta Tripathi had already cultivated a personal relationship with books that closely mirrored her screen persona.
Looking back, Shweta says that Golu’s love for reading was one part of the character that required very little preparation because it mirrored her own life so closely. The actor believes that her curiosity, independent way of thinking and desire to constantly learn are qualities she naturally shares with the much-loved character.
Reflecting on the connection, Shweta says, “Every actor hopes they’ll meet a character who already understands a part of them. For me, that was Golu. Her love for books never felt like research because I’d been living with that habit for years. I’ve always been the person who walks into a bookstore saying, ‘I’ll just browse,’ and somehow walks out carrying at least three books. If there’s one thing that has always connected Golu and me, it’s reading. Books have shaped the way I see people and the world around me. As an actor, you’re constantly trying to understand why someone behaves the way they do, and books allow you to step into hundreds of lives without leaving your own. They’ve made me less judgemental, more empathetic and endlessly curious. Golu and I also share that need to keep learning, asking questions and not accepting everything at face value. Where we’re different is that Golu is much more reserved, while I’m someone who enjoys conversations and expressing what I feel. But at our core, that curiosity and love for discovering something new through every book is what connects us the most.”
For Shweta, books have never been just a hobby. They have quietly influenced the choices she has made, the characters she has connected with and the stories she wants to tell. That is perhaps why some of her most memorable characters, including Golu Gupta, carry the same love for reading that has been a part of her own life for years.
Today, as Shweta continues to evolve both as an actor and a producer, books remain a constant companion—forming a quiet thread that connects who she was before Mirzapur, who she became through Golu Gupta, and the storyteller she continues to grow into with every new chapter.
By Keerti Kadam