Shilpa Shetty Kundra (born Ashwini Shetty; Née Shetty; 8 June 1975) is an Indian film actress who primarily works in Hindi. Shetty made her movie debut in the thriller Baazigar (1993), for which she received two Filmfare Award nominations, and then played a dual part in the action comedy Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994).
Shetty's career as a main actress had a rebirth with the turn of the millennium, with the love drama Dhadkan (2000) being a watershed moment in her career. This was followed by roles in Indian (2001) and Rishtey (2002), for which she received critical acclaim and a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Shetty gained critical acclaim for her performance as a career woman suffering from AIDS in the 2004 social drama Phir Milenge, for which she was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in films such as the action thriller Dus (2005), the ensemble drama Life in a... Metro (2007), for which she gained critical acclaim, and the sports drama Apne (2007). She was also recognized for her dance performance in the love movie Dostana (2008)'s song "Shut Up & Bounce." Following that, she took a sabbatical from film acting.
In 2006, she made her reality television debut as a judge on the dancing reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Shetty entered the fifth season of the UK reality show Celebrity Big Brother in early 2007. Shetty gained extensive international media coverage and attention during her time in the house, both for the hostility she encountered from her fellow participants and for finally winning the show. Following that, she hosted the second season of the reality show Bigg Boss. Since then, Shetty has served as a judge on various Indian dance reality programs, including Zara Nachke Dikha (2010), Nach Baliye (2012-20), and Super Dancer (2016-present).
Shetty is a celebrity spokesperson for businesses and goods, as well as an outspoken advocate for issues such as feminism and animal rights. Since 2006, Shetty has collaborated with PETA on an advertising campaign opposing the usage of wild animals in circuses. She is also a fitness fanatic, having released her own Yoga DVD in 2015. She is active in various fitness projects, including the Fit India Movement, which was started by the Indian government. Shetty received the Champions of Change Award for her work on the cleanliness campaign Swachh Bharat Mission. She was a part-owner of the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals from 2009 to 2015.
Shetty grew up in Mangaluru, Karnataka, in a Tulu-speaking Bunt family. Her mother Sunanda and late father Surendra Shetty worked in the pharmaceutical industry as manufacturers of tamper-proof water caps. Shamita Shetty's older sister. Shetty revealed her Bengali lineage in 2016, when attending a fashion event in Dhaka, where she also expressed future ambitions to visit her ancestral farmhouse in Sylhet and feature in a Bangladeshi film.
Shetty attended St. Anthony's Girls High School in Chembur as well as Podar College in Matunga. She was the captain of her school's volleyball team and a qualified Bharatanatyam dancer.
Shetty began her modeling career in 1991, after finishing her tenth-grade exams, with a Limca television commercial. She thereafter appeared in several other commercials and promotions, and she began receiving offers for film roles. Shetty continued her modeling career until she became an actress.
1993-1994 acting career: Initial roles and debuts
Shetty signed for and began work on her first film, the romantic drama Gaata Rahe Mera Dil, directed by Dilip Naik, which depicts the story of a girl caught up in a love triangle between two guys (Ronit Roy and Rohit Roy). However, the film was never released, therefore Shetty's debut feature was Abbas-Mustan's thriller Baazigar, in which she co-starred with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Inspired by the 1956 Hollywood film A Kiss Before Dying, the film starred Shetty as Seema Chopra, a girl who is slain by her vengeful boyfriend, played by Khan. Baazigar was a huge box office success, finishing as the fourth highest-grossing picture of the year. Both the film and Shetty's performance gained critical acclaim; at the annual Filmfare Awards ceremony, Shetty was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Lux New Face of the Year (now known as Best Female Debut).
Shetty has three films released in 1994. Her first film that year was the action movie Aag, in which she played the lead for the first time. The film, which also starred Govinda and Sonali Bendre, had Shetty play Bijli, a country beauty who is actually a plainclothes policewoman sent to apprehend a killer (played by Govinda) at any cost. Aag was a moderate movie office success with mixed critical reception, as was Shetty's performance. Shetty then appeared in the action comedy Main Khiladi Tu Anari starring Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Raageshwari, and Shakti Kapoor. Shetty played both Mona (a cabaret dancer and gangster's girlfriend) and her doppelganger Basanti (a country beauty) in the film. The film, which marked Shetty's first of many collaborations with Kumar, was a box office smash. Both the film and Shetty's performance gained widespread critical acclaim; the success of Main Khiladi Tu Anari proved to be a watershed moment for Shetty. Her third and last release that year was the love romance Aao Pyaar Karen, in which she starred alongside Saif Ali Khan. The film, which tells the love tale of a wealthy man and his maid (Khan and Shetty, respectively), did poorly at the box office.
1995-1999: Popularity and widespread success
Shetty appeared in Hathkadi in 1995, alongside performers such as Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, and Madhoo, however the film bombed at the box office. She made her Tamil cinema debut with Mr. Romeo, which was released in 1996 and starred Prabhu Deva and Madhoo. At the box office, the picture was a sleeper musical hit. Her busiest year was 1997, when she appeared in six different films, beginning with the Telugu-language film Veedevadandi Babu. The action thriller Auzaar was her first major Bollywood film that year. Shilpa played Prathna Thakur, alongside stars Salman Khan and Sanjay Kapoor. She had one release in 1998, Pardesi Babu, for which she gained critical praise and won the Bollywood Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress. She co-starred in the commercial sensation Jaanwar with Akshay Kumar and Karishma Kapoor in 1999.
Critical praise and financial success from 2000 to 2007.
Shetty got critical acclaim in 2000 for her performance in Dhadkan, which grossed a respectable sum at the Indian box office. In award ceremonies, she garnered multiple nominations for Best Actress. She would later co-star in the film Rishtey (2002) opposite Anil Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor. Her comedic performance as an eccentric fisherwoman was favorably applauded, and she was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as accolades for Best Comedian.
Shetty made her film debut in 2004 with Garv, in which she played a Muslim orphan and disillusioned table dancer alongside Salman Khan. Shetty stated that she wanted to make the film because she was interested in the issue. The film was a police procedural. She gained critical acclaim for her role in Phir Milenge, in which she played a wealthy metropolitan high-flyer who catches HIV via unprotected sex and becomes a social outcast as a result. The film, based on the 1993 film Philadelphia, was thought to have addressed a social taboo that Bollywood had yet to touch. The film earned Shetty a nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress and provided fuel for her HIV-related charitable activities (see below). "Phir Milenge belongs entirely to Shetty," said Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM. She gives what can only be described as "the performance of her career." This signified a departure from the past tendency of frivolous song-and-dance pieces in favor of roles with greater character depth, as shown by her action thriller Dus (2005). Despite receiving modest movie office returns, Shetty remarked that she took the job to reinvent herself by playing the fairly unusual character of an anti-terrorist squad member.
Shetty co-starred with Upendra in the Kannada film Auto Shankar in 2005. Due to her nasty character in the film, she was dubbed "The Gabbar Singh of the South" after the film's box office triumph. She co-starred in the film Fareb alongside her younger sister Shamita Shetty the same year. Shetty only had one film out in 2006, the long-awaited Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar. The film was a box office disappointment, but she received positive reviews for her performance as a not-so-likable wife. In 2006, she was a judge on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, a Sony TV dance show based on the original UK show Strictly Come Dancing, alongside Farah Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Shetty appeared in Mani Ratnam's theatrical production Netru, Indru, Naalai.
Shetty's most profitable year at the box office was 2007. Her debut film, Life in a... Metro, got rave reviews and became the first Bollywood film to screen in London's Leicester Square. Within three weeks of its release, the picture was declared a semi-hit at the box office. Furthermore, the film was critically acclaimed, and Shetty's performance was praised, with CNN-IBN's Rajeev Masand commenting, "It's a terrific performance and unquestionably Shetty's best to date." Apne, a family drama in which she co-starred with three Deols (Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby), was also a box office triumph.
Shetty appeared in the unreleased 2010 Indo-Chinese drama The Desire, which was salvaged during production by her mother, who stepped in after the project's producer abandoned it unfinished.
Shetty's lone appearance on-screen during her sabbatical was in the 2014 film Dishkiyaoon, when she sang the song "Tu Mere Type Ka Nahi Hai." She made her film debut after 14 years with the 2021 film Hungama 2, which received generally unfavorable reviews.
Shetty's next film will be Nikamma, in which he will co-star with Abhimanyu Dassani and Shirley Setia. She will also be seen in her upcoming women-centric film, Sukhee, alongside Amit Sadh. Shetty will make her web debut as the first female cop in Rohit Shetty's Cop world in his series "Indian Police Force." She will co-star with Sidharth Malhotra.
Work done away from the camera
Shetty supported a BBC World Service Trust television show in February 2006 to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in India. According to reports, she took part to show solidarity with HIV/AIDS patients. According to Shetty, the subject was very personal to her because she represented an HIV-positive patient in her 2004 film Phir Milenge. Shetty remarked of the film and HIV in general, "Why not a film about HIV positive patients?" In our society, it is considered a social stigma. We made this film to bring attention to this issue... This film will raise awareness about AIDS in our country. It is past time that we discussed this in our society."
Shetty was said to have joined PETA in March 2006 as part of an advertising campaign against the usage of wild animals in circuses. Shetty is a long-time PETA member who has aided the campaign by appearing for photos in a figure-hugging tiger costume, according to a PETA India press release. She added that when crouching in a cage for the photograph, her agony was minor in comparison to the pain endured by the beasts. "These once dignified animals only leave their cages, which are barely larger than their bodies, for a few minutes each day to be forced into the ring to perform tricks that make no sense and are distressing to them." The best method to help circus animals in distress is to boycott the circus." Shetty later claimed in an interview that she was passionate about this topic and was horrified to learn of the horrible treatment of such creatures. "I thought I should put a stop to it. Why not go for it if I may make a small impact in their lives?" Shetty, together with Farah Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, began the inaugural season of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in September 2006.
Shetty was a contestant and eventual winner of the British reality television series Celebrity Big Brother 5 in January 2007. She was the show's first Indian celebrity to appear. She reportedly received Rs.31.5 million (£367,500 GBP) for her participation and told Davina McCall, "I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here." "I have zero expectations," she said of her involvement. The only thing I genuinely want to maintain is my dignity and self-respect." According to her sister Shamita, this is "the most daring decision Shilpa has made so far." Shetty coached fellow housemates Carole Malone and Ken Russell in meditation and flirted with Dirk Benedict throughout her stay on the show, but tempers began to fray by Day 7 as a clique developed in the house unhappy of Shilpa's presence. Shetty won the competition with 63% of the public vote after a worldwide controversy exposed her as a target of racist bullying within the house. She described the experience as "incredible and overwhelming." She also expressed gratitude to the public for providing her with "a fantastic opportunity to make my country proud." Shetty began hosting the second season of Bigg Boss, the Indian version of the worldwide reality television series Big Brother, in August 2008. Shetty and Raj Kundra paid roughly US$15.4 million for an 11.7% ownership in the Indian Premier League franchise cricket team Rajasthan Royals in February 2009. Shetty also co-owns the Iosis spa and salon company in India. Shetty appeared as a talent judge on Nach Baliye (seasons 5, 6, and Shriman v/s Shrimati) alongside Sajid Khan and Terrence Lewis from 2012 to 2014.
Shetty began hosting the reality television show Soney Ka Dil in March 2014, which she also co-produced alongside Kundra. The format of the show is built on presenting ordinary people who have gone above and beyond to aid others in need. Shetty made his cinematic debut the same year with the box-office disappointment Dishkiyaaoon. Shetty, who holds a black belt in karate, released her fitness Yoga DVD in 2015.
She has been judging the dancing reality show Super Dancer on Sony Entertainment channel since early 2016, alongside co-judges Geeta Kapoor and Anurag Basu. Shetty was named a brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Mission, a drive to improve sanitation across India, by the Indian government in 2017. She earned the Champions of Change award for her work in that campaign on January 20, 2020.
B.L. Agro Industries announced her as the brand ambassador for their food offerings brand Nourish under the categories Pulses, Dry Fruits, and Flours in 2021.
Charges of obscenity
Shetty and actress Reema Sen were arrested in April 2006 by a Madurai court for "posing in an obscene manner" in images published by a Tamil tabloid. According to the article, the two actresses had failed to comply with previous summonses, prompting the issuing of the warrants. According to the petitioner, the paper published "very sexy and medium blow-ups" in its December 2005 and January 2006 issues, in violation of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, the Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1956, and Indian Penal Code Section 292 (Sale of Obscene Books). The petitioner also requested that the photographs be confiscated in accordance with the Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867.
Shetty stated that she had not received any court summons and that the charges were false. She further stated that the photos were freeze-frames from a recent film that only showed her navel. "In terms of my photographs, what is obscene about them?" If revealing one's navel is considered obscenity, then our traditional Indian dress, the sari, should be prohibited in the first place."
Outgoing Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal revealed in January 2007 that Shetty had written to him requesting that he issue guidelines against frivolous litigation against artists, but he had declined her request on the grounds that she should have submitted a real petition rather than a letter.
Racism's target
Main article: Racism in Celebrity Big Brother (British Series 5)
During her time on Celebrity Big Brother 5, Shetty faced bigotry and bullying from other housemates, most notably Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara, and Danielle Lloyd. Shetty was criticized for her Indian accent after correcting Goody's mother, who mispronounced Shetty's name as 'Shiwpa,' and Lloyd referred to her as a "dog." Following their notion that Shetty had undercooked a chicken, which had given O'Meara diarrhea, O'Meara generalised that all Indians were skinny because they were "sick all the time" as a result of undercooking their food. Lloyd also said she didn't like Shetty handling her food since she didn't know "where her hands had been."
After Shetty tried to flush the leftover chicken soup down the toilet, causing a blockage, housemate Jack Tweed suggested she pick the bones out with her teeth and allegedly referred to her as a "fucking Paki," though show producers denied this and stated that the word used was "cunt." During a heated disagreement, Goody informed Shetty that she needed to "spend a day in the slums," but the media misinterpreted this as "return to the slums." Goody referred to Shilpa as "Shilpa Fuckawallah," "Shilpa Daroopa," and "Shilpa Poppadom," saying that she didn't know her surname and subsequently claiming that they were non-racist references to Indian food. Lloyd had stated that Shetty's English abilities were inadequate and that she should "fuck off home."
Danielle Lloyd (left) and Shetty (right) during the premiere of Life in a... Metro in London's Leicester Square in 2007.
Shetty had broken down multiple times, telling fellow housemate Ian Watkins, "I feel like I'm losing my dignity." Following the show, Goody indicated that she recognized her remarks were perceived as racist and apologized for any offense caused. Shetty stated on February 14, 2007, "Jade and Danielle did apologize." I've also forgiven them. Anyone who knows me knows how quickly I forgive and forget." Shetty stated on February 17, 2007, that she wanted to forgive Jo O'Meara, but she and the other Celebrity Big Brother contestants were unable to contact her. Tweed was quite disappointed with Goody for apologizing to Shetty for her behavior, and he labeled Shetty a "dick" after previously referring to her as a "wanker." Shetty believed that she was a victim of racism, but afterwards reversed her statement, adding that "people say things in anger." Lloyd and Shetty were shot together during the premiere of Shetty's film Life in a... Metro in London in May 2007.
The racial statements were shown on UK television, resulting in national and worldwide media coverage, responses from the UK and Indian governments, and the show's suspension during the 2008 season. Many agencies and corporations terminated relationships with the housemates accused of racism, citing the allegations as the cause. In addition, many Big Brother series sponsors canceled or halted their support for the show. Following an inquiry, Ofcom determined that Channel 4 had violated the Ofcom code of conduct and imposed statutory sanctions on the network.
The kissing incident involving Richard Gere
During an AIDS awareness event on April 15, 2007, American actor Richard Gere repeatedly kissed Shetty on the cheek. Protesters, including members of the Hindu nationalist political group Shiv Sena, battered burning Gere effigies with sticks in response. Protests were held in several cities, including Varanasi, Bhopal, Kanpur, Indore, Delhi, and Mumbai. Others set fire to Shetty's glamour photos. Some groups sought an apology from her and threatened to prohibit her films from being shown in the state. Shiv Sena leaders denied involvement in the protests, but Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the protests were "just a manifestation of the general public's anger" and that there was "nothing wrong with expressing contempt at such an act."
In response to the objections, Shetty stated, "I understand this (kissing) is his (Gere's) culture, not ours." But it wasn't such a big deal or so heinous that people overreacted in such a way. I'm not sure I understand these people's feelings, but I don't want a foreigner to carry terrible memories from here." On April 26, 2007, an Indian court in Rajasthan issued an arrest order for Shetty and Gere. Following that, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of India dismissed the suit and suspended the arrest warrants. While Gere's accusation was dropped shortly after the incident, Shetty's charge was not legally dismissed until January 2022. Gere has now apologized for creating any offense, and Shetty has stated that "so much has been blown out of proportion."
Private life
Shetty began dating Akshay Kumar on the set of Insaaf (1997) after working with him in Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), the latter having recently broken up with actress Raveena Tandon. Shetty was candid about her friendship with Kumar. The Indian media thought that she was engaged and that Kumar wanted Shetty to stop acting and settle down. Shetty, on the other hand, has declared that she has no plans to marry. The pair split up while filming Dhadkan in 2000.
Shetty married Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals, in February 2009. On November 22, 2009, the couple married. On May 21, 2012, Shetty gave birth to a boy. The couple had a second child, a daughter, via surrogacy on February 15, 2020.
In the news
Shetty attended a reception at the House of Commons in February 2007 at the request of Keith Vaz MP to meet with then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. In March 2007, she was also invited to see Queen Elizabeth II at Marlborough House in London. During an appearance with This Morning, Shetty said that she had been approached to appear in the British soap opera EastEnders, but declined since it would require her to postpone all of her other commitments.
She was the subject of The Real Shilpa Shetty, a Sky One documentary produced by British television production company Twofour. Shilpa's enormous number of commercial offers after winning Celebrity Big Brother 5 sparked controversy, with an increasing number of charges that she was riding the "racism" wave for commercial benefit. She graced the cover of OK! Magazine's first issue published in India.
She walked the runway at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in early September 2007. Her next project was a cookbook called Soul Curry, as well as the character of Sita in Uru Patel's international endeavor Hanuman.
The Shilpa Shetty app, which features yoga routines, functional training, special regimes (for women who are pregnant, struggling with menstrual cramps, and so on), and daily nutrition charts for each program, was launched in early May 2019 by the actress, who has long been the poster girl for fitness. "I believe that lifestyle changes are urgently needed." The app has something for everyone. "You can do the workouts without any equipment in the comfort of your own home," Shilpa says.
| Bio | |
| Full Name | Shilpa Shetty Kundra |
| Nicknames | Manya, Honey bunch, Babucha, Silly Pooh |
| Profession(s) | Actress, Model, Producer, Entrepreneur, Author |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 170 cm in meters- 1.70 m in Feet Inches- 5' 7" |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 8 June 1975 |
| Age (as in 2022) | 47 Years |
| Birthplace | Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
| School | St. Anthony Girls' High School, Chembur, Mumbai |
| College | Podar College, Matunga, Mumbai |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate |
| Debut Film | Baazigar (1993) |
| Family | Father- Surendra Shetty (tamper-proof water caps manufacturer) Mother- Sunanda (tamper-proof water caps manufacturer) Sister- Shamita Shetty (Younger, Actress) Brother- N/A |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Address (Fan Mail Address) | Shilpa Shetty Foundation Bungalow No. 158, SVP Nagar Near Janki Devi School, Behind Telehone Exchange MHADA Versova, Andheri (West) Mumbai - 400 053 India |
| Hobbies | Dancing, Cooking, Working out at gym, Doing Yoga |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Kori Roti, Corn pulao, Chicken Biryani, South Indian Food, Low-cal soups and salads |
| Street Food | Pani-puri |
| Breakfast Food | Upma and Idli |
| Actor | Bollywood: Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda Hollywood: Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise |
| Actress | Sridevi |
| Designer | Donna Karan |
| Perfume Brand | S2 (her own perfume brand) |
| Holiday Destination | Lake Como, Italy |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Raj Kundra |
| Marriage Date | 22 November 2009 |
| Children | Daughter- None Son- Viaan Raj Kundra |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth | $14 Million |
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