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Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa at the Romanov Vodka media event
Years active	14
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)

Shilpa Shetty (Tulu:ಶಿಲ್ಪ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ), born June 8 1975, is a Bollywood actress, an AIDS activist, PETA supporter and the brand ambassador for Romanov Vodka.

Background

Born to Surendra and Sunanda Shetty in Karnataka, India, in a Bunt family, Shetty's native language is Tulu. She can also speak in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, and can understand a little French. Her younger sister Shamita Shetty is a budding Bollywood actress.

She attended St Anthony Girls' High School in Chembur and then went to Podar College. She was the captain of the baseball team and has earned a black belt in Karate. She is one of Bollywood's tallest actresses and currently resides in Mumbai.

Career

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Shilpa was first offered a leading role in Gaata Rahe Mera Dil opposite Rahul Roy. She was only 17 years old then and had no background or training in acting. However the film was never completed.

Shetty first appeared in Baazigar (1993) along with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, where she played the murder victim of her psychopathic boyfriend. It was a major success and earned her the Filmfare Award nomination for the Filmfare Best Debut Award. This was followed by the success of Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) opposite Akshay Kumar.

Succeeding films did not do as well at the box office. Her dance number in the film Shool was instrumental in the film's success. She won critical acclaim in 2004 with her performance as an AIDS victim in Phir Milenge. Her 2005 film Dus was a popular success. She has appeared with her sister in the 2005 film, Fareb.

Shetty was featured in Mani Ratnam's stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai. She has also featured in Jhalak Dikkhlaja, a Sony Entertainment Television dance show as she is also renowned for her dancing skills.

Celebrity Big Brother 5

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Main article: Celebrity Big Brother 2007 (UK)

Shetty is currently a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother UK. She is the first Indian as well as the first Bollywood actress to participate in the popular reality show, and was the sixth person to enter the house. She was reportedly paid Rs.31.5m for her participation. She wore a pink sari when entering the house and said to presenter Davina McCall, "I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here".

Famous associations

As well as modelling and acting, Shetty has associated herself with several other commercial and non-profit organizations.

AIDS

In February 2006 Shetty lent her support to a BBC-endorsed television show designed to tackle the problem of HIV-AIDS in India. The project, which also involved other celebrities Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, and Raveena Tandon in separate episodes, featured Shetty as she shadowed a young achiever whose work involved raising awareness about the condition. "I have participated to show my solidarity to people living with HIV-Aids. I will do anything for them to feel wanted and special," she said.

The issue is particularly close to Shetty's heart as she had portrayed an HIV-positive sufferer in her 2004 movie Phir Milenge. Speaking about the movie 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 a social awareness about AIDS in our country. It is high time we talked about this in our society."

PETA

In March 2006 various sources reported Shetty's joining PETA as part of an advertising campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses. 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 such discomfort is insignificant compared to the lifelong troubles 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".

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?"

Brand ambassador for Romanov Vodka

In a May 2006 press conference by United Spirits Ltd., it was announced that Shetty would be the brand ambassador of Romanov Vodka. Sami Lala, President of United Spirits, said that Shetty was chosen for her status as an "aspirational icon", and that her "innate style, energy and attitude highlight the core attributes of the brand." Shetty responded by saying that it was a pleasure to be associated with the organisation and her parnership with Romanov; "I vibe really well with the brand’s youthful attitude. The brand is definitely going places and I wish it all the very best. Now we will grow together."

Controversies

Mafia links

In May 2003 a controversy erupted over alleged links between Shetty's parents and the Indian underworld. The Surat police issued arrest warrants against her parents on charges of extortion. Police Commissioner of Surat, D.K. Gupta, told the media that the owners of Praful Sarees had lodged complaints with them after claiming to receive threatening telephone calls from Mumbai-based underworld figures asking for money on behalf of the Shettys. The dispute between the two parties related to a 1998 modelling assignment where Shilpa endorsed Praful Sarees and had only been paid Rs. 50 lakhs (over $113,000) out of a contractually-agreed agreed 3 crores ($226,000). Agarwal claimed that the full sum had been paid in advance, but he had no knowledge of how much had been paid to Shilpa. Surendra Shetty was refused bail by a Mumbai court although bail was granted to Sunanda, as she had been travelling abroad at the time the warrant was issued. The police further claimed to possess a record of a telephone call between Shilpa's parents and Pankaj Agarwal, the owner of Praful Sarees. This was denied by the parents and the tape was claimed to have been "manipulated".

Sunanda Shetty held a press conference on June 5 where she denied that the family had underworld connections and that the whole fracas was a "plot to tarnish the image of my daughter." She further said that she was "definitely innocent" of the charges and was falsely implicated by Agarwal after he had failed to fully reimburse Shilpa for her work. On June 13 it was reported that Surendra had confessed to establishing contact with associates of Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of the Mumbai gang, after being interrogated by police. A contradictory story surfaced that, although the Shettys' driver, Dilip Pashekar, admitted to introducing Surendra with Rehman's associates, Surendra continued to deny that any links were forged. A senior police official confirmed that Surendra had "vehemently denied" his links even though he and Pashekar were interrogated side by side. Shetty's lawyer later clarified that the reports of confessing to mafia links were false.

Court hearings revealed that, despite Shetty's denials, print-outs of cellular phone records proved that contact between Shetty and the gang had taken place. On June 20 Surendra Shetty was formally arrested after surrendering to the police, later telling news reporters that the entire issue was designed to malign him and his family. When asked about the underworld's involvement, Shetty said "I don't know, I talked to them only after they called up and said they were agents of Agarwal." Further court hearings cast doubt on the veracity of the evidence tapes; Shetty's defence claimed that it was Agarwal who recorded the telephone calls rather than the police, and that the possibility of dubbing or manipulation could not be ruled out. Shilpa was quizzed by police upon her return to India after returning from overseas filming assignments, denying all knowledge of any involvement between her parents and underworld figures and claimed that she had no knowledge of the case until it became public through the media. She further stated that her mother had power of attorney over her financial affairs and disclaimed any knowledge of payment for the Praful Sarees affair. Sunanda's bail hearing had been adjourned three times during the case due to health grounds.

Another strange twist occurred when the Shettys' driver, Dilip Pashekhar, was arrested. On Nov 5 it was reported that Surendra and Sunanda Shetty, among three others, were chargesheeted and which paved the way for a trial commencement in a local court. The trial is still pending. In August 2006 Sunanda said that Shilpa had no involvement with the case and that the arrest of Fazl-ur-Rehman earlier that month would not have a negative effect on Shilpa's career. Shilpa has threatened to claim damages after an unnamed local tabloid allegedly printed incorrect information about the case. In an interview for Filmfare, Shilpa said that she was very "cut up" and "devastated" with the way the case had turned into a trial by media and that they had behaved "unethically". She also said that this was the worst controversy she had ever been through, and expressed her thanks to several film figures for standing by her, including Raj Kumar Santoshi and Anil Kapoor.

Obscenity charges

In April 2006, a Madurai court issued non-bailable warrants against Shetty and Reema Sen for "posing in an obscene manner" in photographs published by a Tamil newspaper. The report stated that the two actresses had failed to comply with earlier summonses for the same reason, hence the issuance of the warrants. The petitioner submitted that the paper had published "very sexy blow-ups and medium blow-ups" in its issues December 2005 and January 2006 issues, and which allegedly violated the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1956, and the Indian Penal Code Section 292 (Sale of Obscene Books). The petitioner further demanded that the images should be confiscated under the terms of the Press and Registration of Book Act 1867.

In an interview for the Times of India, Shetty responded that she had not received any court summons and also dismissed the charges. She further claimed that the pictures were freeze-frame shots from a recent movie that only exposed her navel. "As far as my photographs go, what is obscene about it? If navel-showing is obscenity, then our traditional Indian outfit - the traditional sari - should be banned in the first place."

Trivia

• Shetty started her career by modelling for Limca in 1991.
• One of her nicknames is 'Silly Pooh'.
• Within five days of setting up an email address to keep in touch with fans. Shetty had received thousands of marriage proposals.

Awards and recognitions

Won

• 2005: AAHOA Award for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Special Awards for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Giant International Awards for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Indo-Pak's Young Achiever Awards
• 1998: Zee Gold Bollywood Awards, Best Supporting Actress for Pardesi Babu

Nominations

• 2004: Sansui Viewers Choice Movie Awards, Best Actress for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Sports World Film Awards, Best Actress for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Filmfare Best Actress Award for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female for Phir Milenge
• 2004: IIFA Best Actress Award for Phir Milenge
• 2004: Bollywood Awards, Best Actress for Phir Milenge
• 2002: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Rishtey
• 2002: Star Screen Award Best Comedian for Rishtey
• 2002: Sansui Viewers Choice Movie Awards, Best Comedian for Rishtey
• 2000: IIFA Best Actress Award for Dhadkan
• 1998: Zee Gold Bollywood Award, Best Supporting Actress for Pardesi Babu
• 1993: Filmfare Best Debut Award for Baazigar

Filmography

References

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See also

• List of Indian movie actresses

External links

• Shilpa Shetty at IMDb
• Shilpa Shetty - Profile page at Big Brother (UK)

• Current events
• 1975 births
• Indian film actors
• Tamil film actors
• Living people
• Bunt people
• People from Karnataka
• Big Brother UK contestants