Shilpa Shetty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Shetty in 2023 | |
| Born | Ashwini Shetty (1975-06-08)8 June 1975 (age 49) |
| Other names | Shilpa Shetty Kundra |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Shamita Shetty (sister) |
| Awards | Full list |
Shilpa Shetty Kundra (bornAshwini Shetty[1][2] on 8 June 1975)[3][4] is an Indian actress who primarily works inHindi films and television. She made her screen debut in the thrillerBaazigar (1993) which gained her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Shetty had intermittent success in the rest of the decade, such as in the action filmsMain Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) andJaanwar (1999).[5]
The romantic dramaDhadkan (2000) marked a turning point in Shetty's career. This was followed by roles inIndian (2001) andRishtey (2002), which earned her a second Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Shetty received praise for playing a woman withAIDS in the dramaPhir Milenge (2004), which earned her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress. She subsequently appeared in the action thrillerDus (2005), the ensemble dramaLife in a... Metro (2007), and the sports dramaApne (2007), and gained attention for the song "Shut Up & Bounce" fromDostana (2008). This was followed by a hiatus from acting.
In 2006, she ventured intoreality television by judging the dance reality showJhalak Dikhhla Jaa. In early 2007, Shetty joined thefifth series of the UK reality showCelebrity Big Brother, ultimately winning the series. During her stay, Shetty received international media coverage and attention for theracism she endured from several of her housemates. Her win was followed by a spot hosting thesecond season of the Indian version of the show,Bigg Boss in 2008. Shetty has since appeared as a judge on several dance and music reality-competition shows, includingZara Nachke Dikha (2010),Nach Baliye (2012–2020) andSuper Dancer (2016–2021), and she has made appearances onIndian Idol (2021–2023). She returned to acting in 2021 with the comedy filmHungama 2 and has since starred in the action seriesIndian Police Force (2024).
In addition to her screen work, Shetty is a celebrity endorser for various brands and products, and she has been vocal about personal issues such asfeminism,vegetarianism andanimal rights.[6][7][8][9] Shetty has worked withPETA since 2006 as part of an advertising campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses. She is also a fitness enthusiast and she launched her own Yoga DVD in 2015. She is involved in several fitness campaigns such as theFit India Movement, launched by the Government of India. Shetty was awarded theChampions of Change Award for her work on theSwachh Bharat Mission cleanliness campaign. From 2009 to 2015, she was a part-owner of theIndian Premier League teamRajasthan Royals.
Shetty was born inMangalore,Karnataka in aTulu speakingBunt family.[10][11][12] Her mother Sunanda and late father Surendra Shetty were bothmanufacturers of tamper-proof water caps in thepharmaceutical industry.[13] She isShamita Shetty's elder sister.
Shetty was educated at St. Anthony's Girls High School, Chembur and atPodar College inMatunga.[14] A trainedBharatanatyam dancer, she was the captain of the volleyball team at her school.[15]
In 1991, after completing her tenth-grade examinations, Shetty began her career as a model with aLimca television commercial and subsequently featured in several other commercials and advertisements, following which she began receiving offers for film roles. Shetty continued to pursue her career as a model until she became an actress.[16]
In September 1992, Shetty signed for and began working on her first film – the romantic dramaGaata Rahe Mera Dil[17] – to be directed by Dilip Naik which tells the story of a girl involved in a love triangle between two men (played byRonit Roy andRohit Roy). However, the film went unreleased, which meant that Shetty's debut release was her next film,Abbas-Mustan's thrillerBaazigar, alongsideShah Rukh Khan andKajol. Inspired by theHollywood filmA Kiss Before Dying (1956), the film featured Shetty in the supporting role of Seema Chopra, a girl who is murdered by her revenge-seeking boyfriend, played by Khan.Baazigar proved to be a major box office hit and finished up as thefourth-highest-grossing film of the year.[18] Both the film as well as Shetty's performance received critical appreciation; Shetty received nominations forBest Female Debut andBest Supporting Actress at the annualFilmfare Awards ceremony.[19]
In 1994, Shetty had three film releases.[18] Her first release that year was the action dramaAag, in which she played her first leading role. Co-starringGovinda and DebutantSonali Bendre, the film saw Shetty portray Bijli, a village belle who is actually an undercover policewoman assigned to arrest a murderer (played by Govinda) at any cost.Aag emerged as a moderate box office success and fetched mixed critical reviews, as did Shetty's performance. Shetty next starred alongsideAkshay Kumar,Saif Ali Khan,Raageshwari andShakti Kapoor in the action comedyMain Khiladi Tu Anari. In the film, Shetty played the dual roles of Mona (a cabaret dancer and a gangster's girlfriend) and her look-alike Basanti (a village belle). The film, which marked Shetty's first of many collaborations with Kumar, proved to be a super-hit at the box office. Both the film as well as Shetty's performance received major critical acclaim; the success ofMain Khiladi Tu Anari proved to be a breakthrough for Shetty. Her third and final release that year was the romantic dramaAao Pyaar Karen oppositeSaif Ali Khan. The film, which narrates the love story of a wealthy man and his maid (played by Khan and Shetty respectively), underperformed at the box office.[18]
In 1995, Shetty starred inHathkadi, where she was working alongside actors such asSaif Ali Khan,Govinda andMadhoo, but they failed at the box office. She made herTamil film debut with 1996 releasedMr. Romeo alongside actorsPrabhu Deva andMadhoo. The film was a sleeper musical hit at the box office. 1997 was one of her busiest years: she appeared in six different films, beginning with theTelugu-language filmVeedevadandi Babu. Her first major Bollywood film of that year was the action thrillerAuzaar. Shilpa portrayed the character of Prathna Thakur alongside actorsSalman Khan andSanjay Kapoor. In 1998, she had one release,Pardesi Babu, alongsideGovinda andRaveena Tandon, for which she received critical acclaim and won theBollywood Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film. In 1999, she appeared in commercial successJaanwar alongsideAkshay Kumar andKarishma Kapoor.
In 2000, Shetty received acclaim for her role in the musical romantic dramaDhadkan, which earned reasonable takings at the Indian box office.[20] She received several nominations under the Best Actress category at various award ceremonies. She would later go on to star withAnil Kapoor andKarisma Kapoor in the filmRishtey (2002). Her comic performance as an eccentric fisherwoman was appreciated and she received her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, in addition to nominations for Best Comedian as well.[21]
In 2004, Shetty appeared in the police dramaGarv, in which she portrayed a Muslim orphan and disillusionedtable dancer starring oppositeSalman Khan.[22] According to Shetty, she chose to do the film because she liked the subject. She received widespread critical acclaim for her performance inPhir Milenge, in which she played a successful city high-flyer who contracts HIV fromunprotected sex and becomes asocial outcast as a result. The film, based on 1993'sPhiladelphia, was perceived to have tackled asocial taboo as yet unaddressed by Bollywood.[16] The film earned Shetty aFilmfare Award for Best Actress nomination and provided an impetus for her HIV-related charity work (see below). Film criticTaran Adarsh fromIndiaFM noted: "Phir Milenge belongs to Shetty completely. She delivers, what can be rightly called, the performance of her career."[23] This marked a break from the previous trend of superficial song-and-dance items in favour of roles that have a greater depth of character,[22] exemplified by her filmDus (2005), an action thriller. Although it received average returns at the box office,[24] Shetty stated that she had taken the role to reinvent herself by portraying the rather unconventional character of an anti-terrorist squad member.[22]
In 2005, Shetty starred oppositeUpendra in theKannada filmAuto Shankar. The film was a major box office success and it earned her the name "TheGabbar Singh of the South" due to her villainous role in the film.[citation needed] The same year, she starred in the filmFareb with her younger sisterShamita Shetty. Shetty had one release in 2006, the much delayedShaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar. The film was a box office flop, but she got good reviews for her role as a not entirely likeable wife.[25] In 2006, she was a judge alongsideFarah Khan &Sanjay Leela Bhansali onJhalak Dikhhla Jaa, aSony TV dance show based on the original UK showStrictly Come Dancing.
In January 2007, Shetty was a contestant and the subsequent winner of the British reality television seriesCelebrity Big Brother 5.[26] She was the first Indian celebrity included in the show. Reportedly paidRs.31.5 m (£367,500&) for her participation,[27] she said to presenterDavina McCall, "I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here".[28] As for her participation, she stated: "I have zero expectations. The only thing I really hope to keep is my self-respect and my dignity."[29] Her sisterShamita toldThe Times of India that this "is the boldest decision Shilpa has taken so far."[30] During her stay on the show, Shetty instructedfellow housematesCarole Malone andKen Russell inmeditation[31] and flirted withDirk Benedict[32] but tempers started to fray by Day 7 as aclique formed in the house disapproving of Shilpa's presence.[33][34] Following a worldwide controversy that publicised her as a target of racist bullying within the house, Shetty won the contest after gaining 63% of the public vote and described the experience as "incredible and overwhelming". She further thanked the public for "a fantastic opportunity to make my country proud".[35] In August 2008, Shetty began hosting thesecond season of the reality television seriesBigg Boss, the Indian version of the international reality television seriesBig Brother.
2007 proved to be Shetty's most successful year at the box office. Her first release,Life in a... Metro, received widespread critical acclaim and became the first Bollywood film to premiere atLeicester Square,London.[36] The film performed well at the box office and was declared a hit within three weeks of release. Additionally, the film was critically acclaimed and Shetty's performance was appreciated, withRajeev Masand ofCNN-IBN writing: "It's a terrific performance and unquestionably Shetty's best to date".[37] Her second release, alongside three Deols (Dharmendra,Sunny andBobby), the family dramaApne, was also a box office success.
Shetty starred in the unreleased 2010 Indo-Chinese dramaThe Desire, a film rescued during production by her mother, who stepped in when its producer abandoned the project unfinished.
AlongsideSajid Khan andTerrence Lewis, Shetty was featured as a talent judge for the dance reality showNach Baliye (seasons 5, 6 and Shriman v/s Shrimati), from 2012 to 2014. In March 2014, Shetty began hosting the reality television showSoney Ka Dil, which she also co-produced along with Kundra. The show format is based on featuring ordinary people who have contributed their extraordinary help to others in need.[38] The same year, Shetty became a film producer with the action filmDishkiyaaoon, a box-office flop.[39] Since early 2016, she has been judging the dance reality showSuper Dancer onSony Entertainment channel along with co-judgesGeeta Kapoor andAnurag Basu.
Shetty's only appearance on-screen during her break was in the 2014 filmDishkiyaoon, where she appeared in the song 'Tu Mere Type Ka Nahi Hai'. She made her comeback to films after 14 years, with the 2021 filmHungama 2 which received widely negative reviews.[40]
Shetty next appeared inNikamma alongsideAbhimanyu Dassani andShirley Setia.[41] She starred in the female-led comedySukhee withAmit Sadh.[42] Shetty next starred inRohit Shetty's series 'Indian Police Force', joining as the first female cop in his Cop universe.[43]
In February 2006, Shetty lent support to a BBC World Service Trust television show designed to tackle the problem ofHIV-AIDS in India.[44] According to reports, she participated in order to show solidarity with HIV-AIDS sufferers.[44] According to Shetty, the issue was particularly close to her heart as she had portrayed an HIV-positive sufferer in her 2004 filmPhir Milenge. Speaking about the film and HIV in general, Shetty said: "Why not a film on HIV positive patients? It is a social stigma in our society. We made this film to highlight this problem ... This film will bring about social awareness about AIDS in our country. It is high time we talked about this in our society".[22]
In March 2006, various sources reported Shetty's joiningPETA as part of anadvertising campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses.[45] According to a PETA India press release, Shetty is a long-time PETA supporter and has assisted the campaign by posing for photographs in a figure-hugging tiger costume. She explained that her crouching in a cage was uncomfortable during the photoshoot, but that her discomfort was insignificant compared to the pain suffered by the creatures. "These once dignified animals only leave their cages, which are barely larger than the size of their bodies, for a few minutes each day to be forced into the ring to perform tricks which make no sense and are upsetting to them. The best way to help animals suffering in circuses is to boycott the circus".[46] Shetty revealed in a later interview that she felt strongly about this cause and that she was appalled to hear of the cruel treatment suffered by such animals. "I thought I should stop that. If I can make a little difference to their lives, why not go for it?"[22]
Shetty holds ablack belt inkarate.[47] She launched her fitnessYoga DVD in 2015.[48] In February 2009, Shetty andRaj Kundra became part owners of theIndian Premier League franchise cricket teamRajasthan Royals by paying approximately US$15.4 million for an 11.7% stake. Shetty also co-owns the Indian chain of spas and salon called Iosis.[49] In 2017, The Indian government selected Shetty as a brand ambassador of theSwachh Bharat Mission, a campaign to improve sanitation throughout India.[50] On 20 January 2020, she received theChampions of Change award for her work in that campaign.[51]
In 2021, edible oils and food products companyB.L. Agro Industries announced her as the brand ambassador for their food offerings brandNourish under categories pulses, dry fruits and flours.[52] In 2023, she invested Rs 2.25 crore inShark Tank India fame WickedGud.[53] She has also been an early investor of MamaEarth, an Indian cosmetic brand.[54][55]
In April 2006, aMadurai court[56] issued non-bailable warrants against Shetty and actressReema Sen for "posing in an obscene manner" in photographs published by aTamil newspaper.[57] The report stated that the two actresses had failed to comply with earlier summonses, hence the issuance of the warrants.[57] The petitioner submitted that the paper had published "very sexy and medium blow-ups" in its December 2005 and January 2006 issues, and alleged that these violated the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1956, and theIndian Penal Code Section 292 (Sale of Obscene Books). The petitioner further demanded that the images be confiscated under the terms of the Press and Registration of Book Act 1867.[57]
Shetty responded that she had not received any court summons and also discounted the charges. She further claimed that the pictures were freeze-frame shots from a recent film that only exposed hernavel. "As far as my photographs go, what is obscene about it? If navel-showing is obscenity, then our traditional Indian outfit – the traditionalsari – should be banned in the first place."[58]
In January 2007, outgoingChief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal confirmed that Shetty had written to him requesting that he enunciate guidelines against frivolouslawsuits against the artists, but he had refused her plea on the grounds that she should have filed a formalpetition instead of writing aletter.[59]
During her stay onCelebrity Big Brother 5, Shetty was the target ofracism andbullying by some other housemates, chieflyJade Goody,Jo O'Meara andDanielle Lloyd.[60] After correcting Goody's mother, who mispronounced Shetty's name as 'Shiwpa', Shetty was mocked for her Indianaccent and was branded "The Indian" and was referred to as a "dog" by Lloyd. Referring to Shetty, O'Meara generalised that all Indians were thin because they were "sick all the time" as a result of undercooking their food, following their belief that Shetty had undercooked a chicken,[61] which had given O'Meara diarrhoea.[62] Lloyd also mentioned that she disliked Shetty touching her food because she did not "know where her hands have been".[63]
After Shetty had attempted to dispose of the left-overchicken soup down the toilet and had caused a blockage, housemateJack Tweed suggested that she should pick the bones out with her teeth[62] and allegedly referred to her as a "fuckingPaki",[64] although show producers denied this and stated that the word used was "cunt".[65][66] During a fierce argument, Goody told Shetty that she needed to "spend a day in the slums", although the media falsely reported this as "go back to the slums".[67] Claiming that she did not know Shilpa's surname, Goody referred to her as "Shilpa Fuckawallah", "Shilpa Daroopa", and "ShilpaPoppadom", later claiming that they were non-racist references to Indian food.[68][69] Lloyd had opined that Shetty's English-speaking skills were lacking and said she should "fuck off home".[70]
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Shetty had been reduced to tears on several occasions, telling fellow housemateIan Watkins: "I feel like I'm losing my dignity."[62] After the show, Goody stated that she understood her comments appeared as racist and apologised for any offence caused.[71] On 14 February 2007, Shetty said "Jade and Danielle did apologise. And I've forgiven them. Anyone, who knows me, knows I forgive and forget easily." On 17 February 2007, Shetty said that she wanted to forgive Jo O'Meara, but she and other Celebrity Big Brother contestants had difficulty contacting her.[72] After Goody apologised to Shetty for her behaviour, Tweed stated that he was very disappointed with Goody for apologising, and called Shetty a "dick" after previously describing her as a "wanker". Shetty speculated that she might be a victim of racism,[73] but later retracted it by claiming: "People say things in anger."[68] In May 2007, Lloyd attended the premiere of Shetty's film Life in a... Metro in London, in which the two were photographed together.
The screening of the racial comments on UK television resulted in national and international media coverage, responses from the UK and Indian governments,[74] and the show's suspension during the 2008 season.[75] Many agencies and corporations cancelled their contracts with the housemates accused of racism, citing the allegations as the reason for the terminations. Also, many sponsors of theBig Brother series cancelled[76] or suspended[77] their sponsorship of the show. After conducting an investigation,Ofcom ruled that Channel 4 had breached the Ofcom code of conduct, and statutory sanctions were placed on the network.[78]
On 15 April 2007, the American actorRichard Gere hugged and kissed Shetty repeatedly on the cheek during an AIDS-awareness event.[79] In response, a number of protesters, including members of the Hindu nationalist political partyShiv Sena,[80] beat burning theeffigies of Gere with sticks.[81] The protests occurred in a variety of cities, includingVaranasi,Bhopal,Kanpur,Indore,Delhi andMumbai.[82] Others set fire to glamour shots of Shetty. Some groups demanded an apology from her and threatened to ban her movies in the state.[83] Shiv Sena leaders denied involvement in the protests, but Shiv Sena member of ParliamentSanjay Raut observed that the protests are "just a manifestation of the anger of the general public" and that there was "nothing wrong with expressing contempt at such an act".[84]
Shetty responded to these protests by saying, "I understand this (kissing) is his (Gere's) culture, not ours. But this was not a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such a manner. I struggle to understand these people's sentiments, but mainly I do not want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."[82] On 26 April 2007, an Indian court in Rajasthan issued a warrant for Shetty and Gere's arrest.[85] A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India subsequently dismissed the suit and suspended the arrest warrants.[86] While the charge against Gere was dropped soon after the incident, the charge against Shetty was not formally dismissed until January 2022.[87] Gere has since expressed regret for causing any offence and Shetty has said: "so much has been blown out of proportion".[88]
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Having worked withAkshay Kumar inMain Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Shetty began dating him on the set ofInsaaf (1997), the latter having just broken up with actressRaveena Tandon.[16] Shetty spoke openly about her relationship with Kumar. The Indian media speculated that she had got engaged, and reported that Kumar wanted Shetty to quit films and settle down. Shetty had stated, however, that she had no plans to marry. The couple broke up in 2000 while filmingDhadkan.[20]
In February 2009, Shetty got engaged toRaj Kundra, with whom she was co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket teamRajasthan Royals. The two married on 22 November 2009.[89][90] Shetty gave birth to a son on 21 May 2012.[91] The couple had a second child, a girl, on 15 February 2020 viasurrogacy.[92][93]
Shetty established herself as one of the leading actresses of the 90s.[94] Nayanika Das ofFilmfare termed Shetty the "most vivacious and hard-working" actress.[95] Shetty has appeared inForbes India'sCelebrity 100 list from 2012 to 2016 and 2019.[96] She ranked at 58th position with an estimated annual income of₹126 million (US$1.4 million) in her debut.[97] In 2019, she ranked 75th with an estimated annual income of₹22.6 million (US$260,000).[98]
Rediff.com named Shetty the "Most Powerful Actress" of 2007.[99] The actress is also known for her dancing skills.[100] InTimes' Most Desirable Women list, she was placed 10th in 2009 and 27th in 2010.[101] In 2009, she ranked 8th inMaxim's "Hot 100" list.[102] Shetty is a celebrity endorser for brands and products such asPantene,Yakult,Kesh King, Mamaearth, B Natural and Fast & Up.[103][104] Shetty was placed 59th in "Google Top 100 Most Searched Asians" list of 2022.[105] Shetty has also received theRajiv Gandhi Award in 2007.[106]Times of India's placed her in its "50 Beautiful Faces" list andRediff.com placed her in "Best Dressed Woman" list.[107][108]
In February 2007, Shetty attended a reception at theHouse of Commons by invitation ofKeith Vaz MP to meet with then Prime MinisterTony Blair. She was also invited to meetQueen Elizabeth II at Marlborough House in London in March 2007. During an interview onThis Morning, Shetty confirmed that she turned the offer to act in the BritishEastEnders soap opera.[citation needed] Shetty was the subject of aSky One documentary entitledThe Real Shilpa Shetty, produced by British television production companyTwofour. The large number of commercial offers that Shilpa received after winningCelebrity Big Brother 5 themselves became a reason for controversy with an increasing number of accusations about her riding the "racism" wave to commercial gain.[109] She was on the cover of the first issue ofOK! Magazine in India.[110] In 2007, she also modelled at theWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.[111]
In 2019 the actress, who has long been the poster girl forfitness, launched a holistic wellness app, The Shilpa Shetty app,[112] which features yoga routines, functionaltraining, special regimes (for women who are pregnant, struggling with menstrual cramps and so on), and daily nutrition charts for each program. "I think lifestyle modifications are the need of the hour. There's something for everyone on the app. You can do the workouts within the comfort of your home, without any equipment," Shilpa says.[113] In 2009, Shetty was among the 10 recipients of theIIFA-FICCI Frames Awards for the "Most Powerful Entertainers of the Decade".[114] Shetty has received anHonorary Doctorate from theUniversity of Leeds.[115]
Shetty has received fourFilmfare Awards nominations:Best Female Debut forBaazigar,Best Supporting Actress forBaazigar andRishtey, andBest Actress forPhir Milenge.[116]
...and thus we celebrate her 42nd birthday...
| Preceded by | Celebrity Big Brother UK winner Series 5 (2007) | Succeeded by |
