Anushka Shetty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Shetty in 2015 | |
| Born | Sweety Shetty[1] (1981-11-07)7 November 1981 (age 44)[2] |
| Education | Bachelor of Computer Applications |
| Alma mater | Mount Carmel College, Bangalore |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours | Kalaimamani (2010) |
| Signature | |
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Sweety Shetty (born 7 November 1981), known by her stage nameAnushka Shetty, is an Indian actress known for her works inTelugu andTamil cinema. She is the recipient of threeFilmfare Awards South, twoNandi Awards, twoSIIMA Awards and oneTamil Nadu State Film Award. Having appeared over 50 films in a variety of roles, she is one of the highest-paid South Indian actresses and is popularly known as the Lady Superstar of South Indian cinema.[3][4][5] She was honoured withKalaimamani in 2010 by theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.[6][7]
She made her acting debut with the 2005 Telugu filmSuper, which garnered her aFilmfare Best Supporting Actress – Telugu nomination.[8] The following year, she starred inS. S. Rajamouli's blockbuster hitVikramarkudu. Her further releasesLakshyam (2007),Souryam (2008), andChintakayala Ravi (2008) were also box office successes. In 2009, Shetty played dual roles in the Telugudark fantasy filmArundhati, which led her to her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu, and Nandi Award. The following year, Shetty's portrayal of a prostitute in the acclaimed dramaVedam won her a second consecutive Best Actress Award from Filmfare.[9][10]
In the 2010s, Shetty also starred in Tamil cinema in the action films such asVettaikaaran (2009),Singam (2010),Singam II (2013), andYennai Arindhaal (2015), all of which were major commercial successes. She continued to draw praise from critics with her leading performances in the dramasVaanam (2011),Deiva Thirumagal (2011) andSize Zero (2015). She portrayed the titular queen in the 2015 epic historical fictionRudhramadevi, which won her the third Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. Shetty's portrayal ofPrincess Devasena in theBaahubali series (2015–17) received widespread acclaim.[11]
Shetty was born as Sweety Shetty on 7 November 1981 inMangalore,Karnataka.[12] She is an ethnic Tuluva hailing from aTulu-speakingBunt family from Bellipady village inPuttur taluk ofDakshina Kannada district.[13][14][15] Her parents are Prafulla and A. N. Vittal Shetty and she has two elder brothers, Gunaranjan Shetty and Sai Ramesh Shetty.[14] Shetty received her Bachelor of Computer Applications fromMount Carmel College in Bangalore. She was also a yoga instructor, trained under Bharat Thakur.[16]
While filming her debut filmSuper, the directorPuri Jagannadh and producerNagarjuna were keen for Shetty to have ascreen name as they felt her real name Sweety may not be appealing to the audience. While mulling over different names, they came acrossAnushka Manchanda who was singing one of the songs in the film. They liked her first name and decided to adopt Anushka as the screen name for Shetty's film career.[17]
Shetty made her acting debut in 2005 with Puri Jagannadh'sSuper, where she featured alongsideNagarjuna andAyesha Takia.[18]Sify stated, "The sexy girls Ayesha and Anushka show off their bodies."[19] For her performance, she earned her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu. The same year, she acted in another filmMahanandi, oppositeSrihari andSumanth.IndiaGlitz said, "Anushka looks comely ---and that is what she seems to be in for." but added, "The script has been stitched and the seams look frayed."[20]Sify stated that it "starts promisingly with a racy first half but goes awry and the tempo slackens post interval." and added, "Anushka looks ravishing thanks to Vasu's camera which is a major plus for the film."[21]
In 2006, she had four releases, the first being S. S. Rajamouli'sVikramarkudu, where she was paired withRavi Teja. Kishore ofNowrunning.com said "The high points of the movie are the flawless acting of Ravi Teja and the lusciousness of Anushka. Anushka has all the assets to that a woman ought to have."[22] andSify said that Anushka "is definitely a highlight."[23] It was a commercial success.[24] She next starred in the filmAstram, a remake of the 1999 Hindi filmSarfarosh, following which she debuted in the Tamil film industry, acting in theSundar C-directed action flickRendu, sharing screen space withR. Madhavan. Later that year, she made a special appearance alongside Mega star Chiranjeevi in A. R. Murugadoss' directorial debut in Telugu,Stalin.[25]
Her first release in 2007 wasLakshya which was a success in box office, after which she starred in Raghava Lawrence'sDon opposite Nagarjuna again. The former, in particular, succeeded at the box office.[26] In 2008 she had appeared in six films.Okka Magaadu was the first release, in which she played one of three female leads.Nandamuri Balakrishna was the actor opposite her inOkka Magaadu. Her next releasesSwagatam alongsideJagapathi Babu andBhumika Chawla andBaladoor opposite Ravi Teja garnered poor reviews and box office returns.[27][28] She next appeared in the filmSouryam withGopichand which became a box office hit.[29] Her last release that year wasChintakayala Ravi oppositeVenkatesh.[30]
In 2009, Shetty first starred in the blockbuster hit, the fantasy filmArundhati. In this heroine-centric film, she essayed two roles for the first time.[10]Idlebrain's Jeevi wrote that she was "simply amazing in two roles" and that she did "exceptionally well with subtle yet impact creating performance,"[31] whileRediff.com claimed that she was "brilliant and breathtaking in parts," labellingArundhati as "totally Anushka's film."[32]Sify noted that she was "at her best with great performance"[33] She went on to win theNandi Special Jury Award[34] and her firstFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.[35] Her next film wasBilla, a remake of the2007 Tamil film of the same name. The film received mixed reviews, withRediff stating "Anushka has a super-toned body and indulges in quite a bit of skin show" but had "nothing much to do,"[36] whileSify stated "Anushka was there to show her oomph and glamour which she has done full justice."[37] Her final release in 2009 was her second Tamil feature film, the action masala filmVettaikkaran with actorVijay and it received generally unfavourable reviews.Rediff said, "Anushka, fresh from her success withArundhathi, has been relegated to pretty bimbette again and appears conveniently during the romantic numbers of whichOru Chinna Thamarai takes the cake."[38] andSify said, "Anushka has nothing much to do and hence goes unnoticed."[39]
She had a string of releases in 2010. She portrayed a prostitute in Krish'santhology filmVedam which starsAllu Arjun.[40] For her performance, she won her second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.[41] Her next Telugu film,Panchakshari, was another heroine-centric film where she again performed double roles.[40] This was followed by the action comedyKhaleja, where she starred oppositeMahesh Babu for the first time in her career,Nagavalli, the Telugu remake of theKannada filmAptharakshaka in which she portrayed the famous role ofChandramukhi andRagada. She also made special appearances in the filmsKedi andThakita Thakita. However all these 2010 releases failed to make an impact at the box office.[40] Her sole Tamil release of 2010, the police dramaSingam co-starringSuriya was a major commercial success.Sify claimed, "Anushka is there only for adding glamour and songs, but does a decent job".[42] while Pavithra Srinivasan ofRediff stated, "Anushka, thankfully, has more to do than just prance around in skimpy clothes (which she does very well). She romances dutifully, but her part picks up when both she and Suriya are in Chennai, tangling with villains."[43] Despite its moderate commercial success,Nagavalli earned Anushka her third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.[44]
She reprised the role she played inVedam in its Tamil remake,Vaanam (2011). Malathi Rangarajan ofThe Hindu said, "Boldness and daring mark Anushka's role—the actor's eyes effectively convey joy, helplessness, agony and anger."[45] A critic fromSify wrote that "Anushka is outstanding as the commercial sex worker as she is able to bring out a life-like performance."[46] She next starred inA. L. Vijay'sDeiva Thirumagal. The drama centers on the characters of Krishna (Vikram), anintellectually disabled father and his daughter Nila. The film became a critical and commercial success, fetching her laurels for her portrayal as Anuradha, an advocate.[47]Oneindia stated, "Anushka Shetty's character in the film had good scope for performance without being glamorous."[48] For her performance, she won theVijay Award for Favourite Heroine, in addition to her sole nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.[49][50]
In 2012, Anushka collaborated again with A. L. Vijay and Vikram in the action dramaThaandavam. Malathi Rangarajan stated that "the romance between Vikram and Anushka is a beautiful feature ofThaandavam."[51] She later appeared alongside Nagarjuna in the fantasy filmDamarukam, which was her first Telugu release after two years. Karthik Pasupulate fromThe Times of India said that Anushka "has little to do as far as performance goes and does a good job of upping the glam quotient."[52] Radhika Rajamani ofRediff claimed, "Anushka looks sweet. Nag and Anushka have good onscreen chemistry."[53]Oneindia claimed, "Anushka Shetty has less scope for acting, but she impresses you in song sequences."[54] She received her fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in the film.
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Shetty's first release in 2013 wasAlex Pandian, an action-masala film, directed bySuraj, co-starringKarthi.[55] The film was a critical and commercial failure.[56] Her second release was Koratala Siva'sMirchi oppositePrabhas.Idlebrain.com claimed, "Anushka is adorable in a naughty village belle, the dubbing also seems great and the character Vennela is the best role among her recent roles in films"[57]Rediff wrote, "Anushka is bubbly and peps up the film considerably."[58]Sify wrote, "Anushka looks beautiful and livens up the moments and praised her chemistry with Prabhas."[59] She earned her fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance inMirchi. She was next seen inSingam II, the sequel toSingam (2010), reprising her role from the first part.Sify said, "Anushka looks jaded, has nothing to do but sizzle with Suriya in two songs"[60] whileThe Times of India stated, "Anushka is forced to take a back seat even as she reprises her role of Kavya."[61]
Anushka's next release wasSelvaraghavan's fantasy adventure filmIrandam Ulagam oppositeArya,[62] that saw her playing a dual role again, the third time in her career. Anushka played Ramya, a doctor and Varna, a high spirited, warrior-like character, in a parallel world.Rediff wrote, "Anushka not only shares equal screen space with Arya, but also plays quite a significant role. In fact, the story revolves around her and she has performed admirably."[63]Behindwoods wrote, "As the shy doctor Ramya and as the fierce warrior Varna, Anushka is simply at her best showcasing a wide range of emotions and stunts. It is her performance that stands as a pivot for the rest of the story to take shape."[64]
Her next release was the Tamil filmLingaa oppositeRajinikanth, released in December 2014.[65] She starred opposite Rajnikanth inLingaa which opened to mixed reviews.[66][67]
In 2015, she starred oppositeAjith Kumar inYennai Arindhaal which opened to positive reviews.[68] Her second release in 2015, is the first part ofBaahubali directed by S. S. Rajamouli. She played a warrior princessDevasena, oppositePrabhas.[69] It was a commercial success and became one of the highest grossing Indian film.[70] Shetty was referred to in the media as the "Lady Superstar", post the film release.The Hindu noted "Anushka is gutsy to take on such a role and emotes through her powerful eyes."[71] Her third release that year was Gunashekar's bilingualRudhramadevi, in which she portrays the title role of the queen ofKakatiya dynasty,Rudrama Devi opposite Allu Arjun andRana Daggubati.[72]AP Herald wrote, "Anushka is very believable and appreciable as a royal torrid and an honorable woman. Hers is a dual character, that of next to kin 'Rudhradeva' and of powerful 'Rudhramadevi' are superb. She plays her dual role in her characters in style and lends credibility to both the characters."[73] She won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in the film. Her final release of the year wasSize Zero where she played a plus-sized women. In 2016, she appeared in two cameo appearances inSoggade Chinni Nayana andOopiri.[74]
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Shetty's first film release in 2017 wasSi3, in which she was paired with Suriya for the third time in her career.[75] InOm Namo Venkatesaya Shetty portrayed Krishnamma, a Goda Devi or Andal-inspired character. Her next release wasBaahubali 2: The Conclusion, where she reprised Devasena.[76][77] The character of Devasena was highly praised by critics and Shetty's portrayal was equally lauded. AFirstpost article noted that the female characters in the second part were the actual heroes of the saga. Comparing Devasena to Arjuna, the article described her as "a competitive warrior who can wield the bow and arrow with finesse". It further noted how her character emphasized the need of freedom of choice writing 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."[78] She earned her seventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance inBaahubali 2: The Conclusion. It was a commercial success and grossed more than the prequel, becoming second highest grossing Indian film.[79] TheBaahubali film series firmly established Shetty as a leading South Indian actress.[80]
In the 2018 filmBhaagamathie, Shetty played the character Chanchala, an IAS officer, who is sent to prison after killing her fiancé.[81] Anushka's portrayal of Bhaagamathie and Chanchala was notable.[82]The News Minute wrote, "There is no woman actor in the south who has the kind of commanding presence that Anushka does. When she's on screen, there's no one else you want to watch. I suppose if I ever met her in person, I'd hear imaginary elephants trumpeting around me because she gets under the skin of these regal roles so convincingly."[83] Praising Shetty's performance it further read, "Anushka alternates between playing the gentle Chanchala and the vengeful Bhaagamathie with ease. This is an actor who can pull off stereotypical depictions of femininity without it 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 around just as a decorative festoon." The film earnedher eighth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance.[83]
In 2019, Shetty appeared inSye Raa Narasimha Reddy asRani Lakshmi Bai.[84] In 2020, she played a painter in the bilingualNishabdham opposite R. Madhavan.[85][86] Following a three year hiatus, Shetty played a woman opting for artificial insemination inMiss Shetty Mr Polishetty oppositeNaveen Polishetty.[87][88] The film was a box office success.[89] Janaki K ofIndia Today noted, "Anushka as Anvitha is quite natural in her role and it makes you fall in love all over again."[90] Shetty will next appear in the Telugu filmGhaati,[91][92] and will make her Malayalam film debut withKathanar – The Wild Sorcerer, asKalliyankattu Neeli.[93]
Shetty is a recipient of threeFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance inArundhati,Vedam andRudhramadevi.[94][95][96]
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