With no film background, but enough confidence for starters, Shilpa Shetty joined Bollywood. She came to be considered “star’ material when her very first film, ‘Baazigar’ where she was paired opposite Shahrukh Khan. Her role, though a small one, was full of substance and one expected her to hit it off big from there itself, but so was not the case.
Shilpa Shetty, with her unconventional looks, may have worked with the A listers including Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Govinda and even Amitabh Bachchan, but her career has remained inert.
Shilpa Shetty was hardly 16 years old when she entered the world of modeling, with Limca providing her one of the first assignments. Two years after this, she was seen in the first movie of her career, ‘Baazigar’ (1993). The film proved to be a box office success and earned her the nomination for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. The 1994 movie ‘Aag’ served as Shetty’s launch pad, as a leading actress. A moderate success, it was followed by the successful film ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’.
The year 1998 saw Shilpa Shetty performing in ‘Pardesi Babu’. The movie not only won her critical acclaim, but also got her the Bollywood Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress. ‘Jaanwar’ and ‘Lal Baadshah’, her films in 1999, were duds at the box office. Then, came ‘Dhadkan’ (2000), a moderate success, and won her nominations in Best Actress category, in different award ceremonies. 2001 was her year for South Indian movies – ‘Bhalevadivi Basu'(Telugu), ‘Maduve Agona Baa’ (Kannada) & ‘Preethsod Thappa (Kannada)
In the 1990s, Shilpa Shetty was reported to be having an affair with co-actor Akshay Kumar. The couple broke up in 2000, after Akshay started dating Shetty’s friend and fellow actress, Twinkle Khanna. Thereafter, she was subjected to the rumors of her affair with director Anubhav Sinha, which she quashed later. Presently, she is alleged to be dating London-based NRI Raj Kundra. Shetty has said that she plans to marry in three years.
Though her native language is Tulu, Shetty can speak a number of other languages. These include English, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Urdu and basic French, which she speaks with varying levels of fluency. One of her nicknames is “Silly Pooh”. Shilpa Shetty is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and also has a black belt in Karate. She lives in Mumbai with her parents and younger sister Shamita Shetty – a budding Bollywood actress.
Films Done By Shilpa Shetty
- 1993 Baazigar Seema Chopra Hindi Nominated—Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the YearNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
- 1994 Aag Bijli/Barkha Sharma Hindi
- 1994 Main Khiladi Tu Anari Mona/Basanti Hindi
- 1994 Aao Pyaar Karen Chhaya Hindi
- 1995 The Gambler Ritu/Radha Hindi
- 1995 Hathkadi Neha Hindi
- 1996 Mr. Romeo Shilpa Tamil
- 1996 Chhote Sarkar Seema Hindi
- 1996 Himmat Nisha Hindi
- 1996 Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya Bangaru Telugu Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu
- 1997 Prithvi Neha/Rashmi Hindi
- 1997 Insaaf Divya Hindi
- 1997 Zameer: The Awakening of a Soul Roma Khurana Hindi
- 1997 Auzaar Prathna Thakur Hindi
- 1997 Veedevadandi Babu Nandhna Telugu
- 1998 Pardesi Babu Chini Malhotra Hindi
- 1998 Aakrosh Komal Hindi
- 1998 Preethsod Thappa Chandana (Chandu) Kannada
- 1999 Jaanwar Mamta Hindi
- 1999 Shool Unknown Hindi Special appearance in song “UP Bihar Lootne”
- 1999 Lal Baadshah Parvati Hindi
- 2000 Azad Kanaka Mahalakshmi Telugu
- 2000 Dhadkan Anjali Chauhan/Anjali Verma Hindi
- 2000 Tarkieb Lt. Captain Preeti Sharma Hindi
- 2000 Kushi Macarena Tamil Guest appearance
- 2000 Jung Tara Hindi
- 2001 Indian Anjali Raj Shekhar Azad Hindi
- 2001 Bhalevadivi Basu Swetha Telugu
- 2002 Karz Sapna Hindi
- 2002 Rishtey Vaijanti Hindi Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
- 2002 Hathyar Gauri Shivalkar Hindi
- 2002 Chor Machaaye Shor Kajal Singh Hindi
- 2002 Badhaai Ho Badhaai Radha/Banto Betty Hindi
- 2002 Junoon Manisha Hindi
- 2003 Ondagona Baa Belli Kannada
- 2003 Darna Mana Hai Gayatri Hindi
- 2004 Phir Milenge Tamanna Sahani Hindi Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
- 2004 Garv: Pride and Honour Jannat Hindi
- 2005 Dus Aditi Hindi
- 2005 Fareb Neha Malhotra Hindi
- 2005 Khamoshh… Khauff Ki Raat Sonia Hindi
- 2005 Auto Shankar Maya Kannada
- 2006 Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar Ahana Kapoor Hindi
- 2007 Life in a… Metro Shikha Hindi
- 2007 Apne Simran Singh Hindi
- 2007 Om Shanti Om Herself Hindi Cameo appearance in the song “Deewangi Deewangi”
- 2008 Dostana Unknown Hindi Special appearance in song “Shut Up & Bounce”
- 2014 Dishkiyaoon Herself Hindi Producer Special appearance in song “Tu Mere Type Ka Nahi Hai”
- 2020 NikammaFilms that have not yet been released TBA Hindi Post-production
- 2020 Hungama 2Films that have not yet been released TBA Hindi Filming
Television Done By Shilpa Shetty
- 2007 Celebrity Big Brother Herself Reality game show
- 2010 Zara Nachke Dikha Judge Dance reality show
- 2012 Nach Baliye Judge Celebrity couple dance reality television series
- 2016 Super Dancer Judge Children’s dance reality television series
- 2018 Hear Me Love Me Herself Amazon Prime Video series