Sweety Shetty (born 7 November 1981), better known by her stage name Anushka Shetty, is a Telugu and Tamil film actress and model. She has won three Filmfare South Awards, two Nandi Awards, two SIIMA Awards, and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award. She is one of the highest-paid South Indian actresses, having appeared in 47 films, and is widely regarded as the "Superstar" of South Indian cinema.
She made her acting debut in the 2005 Telugu film Super, for which she received a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu. The following year, she starred in Vikramarkudu, a blockbuster hit directed by S. S. Rajamouli. Her subsequent box office successes included Lakshyam (2007), Souryam (2008), and Chintakayala Ravi (2008). Shetty won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu and Nandi Award in 2009 for her dual roles in the Telugu dark fantasy film Arundhati. The following year, Shetty's portrayal of a prostitute in the critically acclaimed drama Vedam earned her a second consecutive Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Shetty also appeared in Tamil films in the 2010s, including Vettaikaaran (2009), Singam (2010), Singam II (2013), and Yennai Arindhaal (2015), all of which were commercial successes. She received critical acclaim for her leading roles in the dramas Vaanam (2011), Deiva Thirumagal (2011), and Size Zero (2012). (2015). She won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress- Telugu for her performance as the titular queen in the 2015 epic historical fiction Rudhramadevi. Shetty's portrayal of Princess Devasena in the Baahubali series (2015-17) was widely praised. While Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) is the seventh highest-grossing Indian film of all time, its sequel, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), is the second highest-grossing Indian film of all time, making her the highest-paid actress in South Indian cinema.
Shetty was born in Mangalore, Karnataka, to a Hindu family. She is an ethnic Tuluva from the Tulu-speaking Bunt family of Bellipady village in Dakshina Kannada's Puttur taluk. Prafulla and A. N. Vittal Shetty are her parents, and she has two older brothers, Gunaranjan Shetty and Sai Ramesh Shetty. Shetty graduated from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore with a Bachelor of Computer Applications. She was also a yoga instructor who had studied with Bharat Thakur.
Puri Jagannadh, the director of her debut film Super, and producer Nagarjuna were keen for Shetty to have a screen name because they felt her real name Sweety might not be appealing to the audience. While brainstorming names, they came across Anushka Manchanda, who was singing one of the film's songs. They liked her first name and chose Anushka as Shetty's screen name for her film career.
Career in film 2005-2008
Shetty made her acting debut alongside Nagarjuna and Ayesha Takia in Puri Jagannadh's 2005 Telugu film Super. According to IndiaGlitz "Ayesha and Anushka are both cool and stylish. Their angles and curves add to the glitz and keep you interested. What about their performance? They're in this movie for it, after all." "The sexy girls Ayesha and Anushka show off their bodies," Sify said. She received her first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu for her performance. The following year, she appeared in another film, Maha Nandi, alongside Srihari and Sumanth. "Anushka looks comely —-and that is what she appears to be in for," IndiaGlitz said. "The script has been stitched, and the seams look frayed," she added. It "starts promisingly with a racy first half but goes awry and the tempo slackens post interval," according to Sify. "Anushka looks ravishing thanks to Vasu's camera, which is a major plus for the film," he added.
She had four releases in 2006, the first of which was S. S. Rajamouli's Vikramarkudu, in which she co-starred with Ravi Teja. Nowrunning.com's Kishore stated "The flawless acting of Raviteja and the lusciousness of Anushka are the film's high points. Raviteja possesses all of the qualities that an actor should possess, and Anushka possesses all of the qualities that a woman should possess." Sify added, "Anushka is definitely a highlight."
She then appeared in the film Astram, a remake of the 1999 Hindi film Sarfarosh, before making her Tamil film debut in the Sundar C.-directed action film Rendu, alongside R. Madhavan. Later that year, she co-starred with Megastar Chiranjeevi in A. R. Murugadoss' directorial debut in Telugu, Stalin.
Her first film, Lakshyam, was a box office success in 2007, and she then starred opposite Nagarjuna again in Raghava Lawrence's Don. The former, in particular, was a box office success. She appeared in six films in 2008. Okka Magaadu, her first film, featured her as one of three female leads. In Okka Magaadu, she was paired with Nandamuri Balakrishna. Her subsequent films, Swagatam, starring Jagapati Babu and Bhumika Chawla, and Baladur, starring Ravi Teja, received mixed reviews and box office returns. She then co-starred in the box office success Souryam with Gopichand.
2009–2010
Shetty made her film debut in the blockbuster hit Arundhati in 2009. For the first time, she played two roles in this heroine-centric film. Jeevi of Idlebrain said she was "simply amazing in two roles" and did "exceptionally well with subtle yet impact creating performance," while Rediff.com said she was "brilliant and breathtaking in parts," calling Arundhati "totally Anushka's film." Sify described her as "at her best with great performance." She later won the Nandi Special Jury Award as well as her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu. Billa, a remake of the 2007 Tamil film of the same name, was her next film. The film was met with mixed reactions, with Rediff stating that "Anushka has a super-toned body and indulges in quite a bit of skin show" but had "nothing much to do," while Sify stated that "Anushka was there to show her oomph and glamour, which she has done full justice." Her final release in 2009 was her second Tamil feature film, the action masala film Vettaikkaran starring actor Vijay, which received mixed reviews. "Anushka, fresh from her success with Arundhathi, has been relegated to pretty bimbette again and appears conveniently during the romantic numbers, with Oru Chinna Thamarai taking the cake," Rediff said. "Anushka has nothing much to do and thus goes unnoticed," Sify said.
In 2010, she had a string of releases. In Krish's anthology film Vedam, starring Allu Arjun, she played a prostitute. She won her second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu for her performance. Panchakshari, her next Telugu film, was another heroine-centric film in which she played dual roles. This was followed by the action comedy Khaleja, in which she appeared alongside Mahesh Babu for the first time in her career, and Nagavalli, a Telugu remake of the Kannada film Aptharakshaka, in which she played the famous roles of Chandramukhi and Ragada. She also made cameos in the films Kedi and Thakita Thakita. All of these 2010 releases, however, failed to make an impression at the box office. Her sole Tamil release in 2010, the police drama Singam, in which she co-starred with Suriya, was a huge commercial success. "Anushka is there only to add glamour and songs, but she does a decent job," Sify claimed. while Rediff's Pavithra Srinivasan stated, "Anushka, thankfully, has more to do than parade around in revealing outfits (which she does very well). She romances dutifully, but her role takes off when she and Suriya are both in Chennai, tangled up with villains." Despite its modest commercial success, Nagavalli earned Anushka her third Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Telugu.
2011–2013
Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rajamouli, Karan Johar, Prabhas, and Rana Daggubati, from left to right, at the trailer launch of the Hindi version of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.
She reprised her role from Vedam in the Tamil remake, Vaanam (2011). According to The Hindu's Malathi Rangarajan, "Boldness and daring mark Anushka's role—the actor's eyes effectively convey joy, helplessness, agony, and anger." "Anushka is outstanding as the commercial sex worker because she is able to bring out a life-like performance," wrote a Sify critic. She went on to star in A. L. Vijay's Deiva Thirumagal. The story revolves around Krishna (Vikram), an intellectually disabled father, and his daughter Nila. The film was a critical and commercial success, and she received accolades for her portrayal of Anuradha, an advocate. "Anushka Shetty's character in the film had good scope for performance without being glamorous," Oneindia said. She received the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for her performance, as well as a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Tamil.
Anushka worked with A. L. Vijay and Vikram again in the action drama Thaandavam in 2012. According to Malathi Rangarajan, "the romance between Vikram and Anushka is a beautiful feature of Thaandavam." She later co-starred with Nagarjuna in the fantasy film Dhamarukam, her first Telugu release in two years. According to Karthik Pasupulate of The Times of India, Anushka "has little to do in terms of performance and does a good job of upping the glam quotient." According to Radhika Rajamani of Rediff, "Anushka looks lovely. Onscreen, Nag and Anushka have a good chemistry." According to Oneindia, "Anushka Shetty has less acting scope, but she impresses you in song sequences." For her performance in the film, she received her fourth nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu.
In 2013, Anushka Shetty attended the TeachAids Awards Gala in Santa Clara, California.
Alex Pandian, an action-masala film directed by Suraj and co-starring Karthi, was her first release in 2013. The film was both a critical and commercial flop. Mirchi, a film directed by Koratala Siva and starring Prabhas, was her second release. According to Idlebrain.com, "Anushka is adorable in a naughty village belle, the dubbing also appears to be great, and the character Vennela is the best role among her recent film roles." "Anushka is bubbly and significantly peps up the film," wrote Rediff. "Anushka looks beautiful and livens up the moments," Sify wrote, praising her chemistry with Prabhas. For her performance in Mirchi, she received her fifth Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Telugu. She then appeared in Singam II, the sequel to Singam (2010), reprising her role from the first film. According to Sify, "Anushka looks jaded, has nothing to do but sizzle with Suriya in two songs," and The Times of India, "Anushka is forced to take a back seat even as she reprises her role of Kavya."
Anushka's next film was Selvaraghavan's fantasy adventure film Irandam Ulagam, in which she played a dual role for the third time in her career. In a parallel world, Anushka portrayed Ramya, a doctor, and Varna, a high-spirited, warrior-like character. According to Rediff, "Anushka not only has equal screen time with Arya, but she also has a significant role. In fact, the story revolves around her, and she has done an excellent job." Behindwoods stated, "Anushka is simply at her best as the shy doctor Ramya and the fierce warrior Varna, displaying a wide range of emotions and stunts. Her performance serves as a springboard for the rest of the story to unfold."
2014–2016
Her next film, Lingaa, starring Rajinikanth, was released in December 2014. Lingaa, in which she co-starred with Rajnikanth, received mixed reviews.
From top to bottom: Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, and S.S.Rajamouli at the 2016 premiere of Baahubali: The Conclusion.
In 2015, she co-starred in Yennai Arindhaal with Ajith Kumar, which received positive reviews. Her second release in 2015 was the first installment of Baahubali, directed by S. S. Rajamouli, which became one of the highest-grossing films in Indian cinema. Anushka Shetty was dubbed the "Lady Superstar" by the media. According to The Hindu, Anushka Shetty is brave to take on such a role and emotes through her powerful eyes. Her third 2015 release was Gunashekar's bilingual Rudhramadevi, in which she plays the title role of Rudrama Devi, the queen of the Kakatiya dynasty, opposite Allu Arjun and Rana Daggubati. According to the AP Herald, "As a royal torrid and honourable woman, Anushka Shetty is very believable and appreciable. Her dual personalities, that of next-of-kin 'Rudhradeva' and powerful 'Rudhramadevi,' are superb. She plays her dual roles in her characters in a convincing manner, lending credibility to both." For her performance in the film, she received her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu. Size Zero, her final film in 2015, starred her as a plus-sized woman. She made a cameo appearance in both Soggade Chinni Nayana and Oopiri in 2016.
2017–present
Si3, her first film release in 2017, paired her with Suriya for the third time in her career. Krishnamma, a Goda Devi or Andal-inspired character, was played by Venkatesaya Shetty in Om Namo. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion was her next film. Shetty's portrayal of Yuvarani Devasena received positive feedback. The character of Devasena was lauded by critics, as was Shetty's portrayal of her. According to a Firstpost article, the female characters in the second installment were the true heroes of the saga. The article described Devasena as "a competitive warrior who can wield the bow and arrow with finesse," comparing her to Arjuna. It went on to say that "in Devasena's case, by taking archery lessons, choosing her life partner, and being given the right to reject a matrimonial alliance, she can be her own person and develop into a strong personality, who doesn't break down even when chained for 25 years in the palace courtyard." She was nominated for her seventh Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu for her performance in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.
Shetty portrayed Chanchala, an IAS officer sentenced to prison for murdering her fiancé, in the Telugu horror thriller film Bhaagamathie (2018). Anushka's performances as Bhaagamathie and Chanchala were noteworthy. According to The News Minute, "There is no other female actor in the south with Anushka's commanding presence. There is no one else you want to watch when she is on the screen. If I ever met her in person, I'm sure I'd hear imaginary elephants trumpeting around me because she is so convincing in these regal roles." It went on to praise Shetty's performance, saying, "Anushka effortlessly switches between the gentle Chanchala and the vengeful Bhaagamathie. This is an actor who can pull off stereotypical portrayals of femininity without grating on your nerves - so when she swoons at the sight of blood in one scene, it doesn't put you off because she takes herself seriously and isn't just there as a decorative festoon." Anushka received her eighth nomination for Best Actress - Telugu for her performance in Bhaagamathie. She signed a deal with UV Creations for a film in May 2021.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Sweety Shetty [1]The Indian Express |
| Nickname(s) | Mac |
| Names Earned | Lady Superstar of South Indian cinema [2]News9live |
| Profession | Actress |
| Famous Role | Princess Devasena in the film series Baahubali (2015–2017) |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 175 cm in meters- 1.75 m in feet & inches- 5’ 9” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 60 kg in pounds- 132 lbs |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 34-30-36 |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Physical Transformation | For film Size Zero (2015)- Anushka gained 20 kgs to play the role of Soundarya in the film Size Zero (2015). She insisted the director that she would actually put on the weight instead of using prosthetics or a body suit saying that a lean face and fat body was a mismatch. In an interview, while talking about the same she said, "We did a photoshoot with prosthetics but I felt that though my body looked fat, my arms and face looked leaner. I felt that mismatch would not look good on screen and decided to do it the natural way by piling on the kilos.” |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film: • Telugu: Super (2005) as Sasha • Tamil: Rendu (2006) as Jothi |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Won the title of Favorite Heroine at Vijay Awards for Vettaikaran (2009) • Special Jury Award at Nandi Awards for Arundhati (2009) • Best Actress Award at Filmfare Awards South for Arundhati (2009) • Best Actress Award at CineMAA Awards for Arundhati (2009) • Best Actress Award at Santosham Film Awards for Arundhati (2009) • Best Actress (Jury) at CineMAA Awards for Vedam (2010) • Best Actress Award at Filmfare Awards South for Vedam (2010) • Best Actress Award at Santosham Film Awards for Vedam (2010) • Best Actress Award at Nandi Awards for Size Zero (2015) • Youth Icon of South Indian Cinema at South Indian International Movie Awards (2011) • Kalaimamani Award by Tamil Nadu State Government (2011) • TSR Lalitha Kala Parishath Award (2011) • Special Prize – Best Actress at Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Deiva Thirumagal (2011) • Won the title of Favorite Heroine at Vijay Awards for Deiva Thirumagal (2011) • Best Actress Award at Filmfare Awards South for Rudhramadevi (2015) • Best Actress (Critics) Awards at South Indian International Movie Awards for Rudhramadevi (2015) • Best Actress at CineMAA Awards for Rudhramadevi (2015) • Best Actress Award at Santosham Film Awards for Rudhramadevi (2015) Won the title of Best Actress in a Leading Role at Behindwoods Gold Medals for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 7 November 1981 (Saturday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | 41 Years |
| Birthplace | Puttur, Karnataka, India |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| College/University | Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor of Computer Applications at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru [3]BookMyShow |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Ethnicity | She is a Tuluva who belongs to the Hindu Bunt community. In 2016, she was seen attending the Kola festival with her family at her ancestral Guthu mane home in Bellipadi in Puttur, Karnataka. Kola is a festival of spirit dance, enthusiastically celebrated among the Tulu-speaking communities in the South Kanara districts and Kasaragod districts of Kerala to gratify the Gods. She participated in all rituals and sought the blessings of presiding deities Modadeya, Rakteshwari, Maisandaya and Guliga. [4]Daijiworld Media [5]Facebook – Bunts Historical Guthu Houses |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian [6]Facebook – Anushka Shetty |
| Address | 6th floor, Woods Apartments, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Hobbies | Doing Yoga, Reading, Travelling, Gardening |
| Tattoo(s) | None |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | N/A |
| Parents | Father- A.N. Vittal Shetty Mother- Prafulla Shetty |
| Siblings | Sister- N/A Brothers- Gunaranjan Shetty (Businessman) and Sai Ramesh Shetty (a cosmetic surgeon) |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Chicken Curry |
| Colour | Black, White |
| Destination | London |
| Book | The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho |
| Actor | Prabhas, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Mahesh Babu |
| Actress(es) | Soundarya, Simran, Jyothika |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Anushka Shetty
,-Biography,-Wiki,-Age,-Boyfriend-&-More-134.jpg "Surabhi-Samriddhi Mehra (Chinky Minky), Biography, Wiki, Age, Boyfriend & More")
