Shilpa Shetty, who is also known as Ashwini Shetty, is an Indian Actress who primarily works in Hindi Films. Shilpa was born on 8th June 1975, in a Tulu-speaking Bunt Family. She is the eldest child of her parents, Late Surendra Shetty and Sunanda, and has a younger sister named Shamitha Shetty, who is also a Bollywood actress and interior designer. Shilpa was born in Kudla(Mangalore) and later was brought up in Mumbai. Shilpa Shetty was married to Raj Kundra, a British Businessman on 22 May 2009. The couple gave birth to a son, named Viyaan, on 21 May 2012. Later on 15 February 2020, they had a second child, a girl named Samisha.
Education
Shilpa Shetty did her schooling in St. Anthony’s Girls High School, Chembur, Mumbai. During her school days, Shilpa was a state-level volleyball player. She went on to graduate from Podar College, Matunga, Mumbai. She is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer.
Career
Modeling
Shilpa Shetty began her career as a model by featuring in a television commercial for Limca. After the commercial’s success, she received many more modeling offers, which she accepted. Shilpa continued to work in modeling until she got a role in a film.
Film
Shilpa Shetty made her debut in September 1992 with the film ‘Gaata Rahe Mera Dil,’ which was directed by Dilip Naik, but unfortunately, the film went unreleased. Shilpa’s second film was ‘Baazigar,’ which was directed by Abbas-Mustan and starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. This became a major box office hit and ended by being the fourth highest grossing film of the year. She even got nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Lux New Face of the Year. In 2005, Shilpa acted in a kannada film. Same year, Shilpa Shetty shared the screen with her younger sister Shamita Shetty in the film ‘Fareb’. She was appointed as a judge for a popy dance show named, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Shilpa was also started in an unreleased 2010 Indo-Chinese drama named, ‘The Desire’ and then appeared in a song of the 2014 film ‘Dishkiyaoon’. After a 14-year long break, Shilpa made a comeback with the 2021 film ‘Hungama 2’.
Awards
Shilpa Shetty received two awards, the Bollywood Movie Award and Zee Cine Award, and was nominated for several others. In 2007, she was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Award. She has also received several honors for her humanitarian causes, including the IIFA Special Award for Global Impact.
Shilpa Shetty is often seen using her mother tongue in shows that she judges. In a recent video, she was seen speaking Tulu on the popular dance show ‘Super Dancer 4’. She also frequently visits the Kateel Temple to seek blessings from Devi.