Shilpa Shetty

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Shilpa Shetty born on June 8th, 1975 in South India is one of the beautiful Bollywood actress, international celebrity and a model. Her father Surendra Shetty is an industrialist dealing in Pharmaceutical products and a one-time model who appeared for Yera Glasses, and mother Sunanda is also an ex-model who did Bournvita and Forhans toothpaste ads. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Shilpa Shetty did her schooling from St. Anthony Girls' High School at Chembur, and graduated from Podar College, Mumbai. She was very active in sports during her school days and also captained the school's Baseball team. She also earned a black belt in martial arts. Like her parents, Shilpa Shetty too decided to become a fashion model.

One fine day, fifteen-year-old Shilpa sought out a photographer in the neighborhood and got her portfolio done. She then began circulating them to various ad agencies and subsequently met with rejections. However Shilpa got her first modeling break with Limca in 1991. She gained widespread attention with the ad featuring in television and print media. She also did Praful Sarees and Romanov Vodka and was appointed as the Brand ambassador of Romanov Vodka in 2006.

Two years later, the now shelved movie 'Gaata Rahe Mera Dil' opposite Rahul Roy came her way. Following year, she was signed for 'Baazigar' {1993} alongside Shahrukh Khan and Kajol and earned a nomination for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

From 'Baazigar' in 1993 to 'Apne' in 2007 it�s been long journey in Bollywood for this wonderful actress. She has seen ups and downs in her movie career with most of her films becoming box office failures for various reasons. Yet the talented beautiful actress withstood the onslaught of failures with her powerful screen presence that has a sort of magnetic charm on the audience and critics alike.

Shilpa Shetty gave a zestful performance in 'Mai Khiladi Tu Anari' {1994} starring opposite Akshay Kumar and announced with a bang that she has arrived on the scene and is here to stay for long. In 1998, her spirited performance in 'Pardesi Babu' won her the Best Supporting Actress from Bollywood Movie Award. Her comic performance in the role of a fisherwoman in 'Rishtey' {2002} received three nominations including Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and Star Screen's Best Comedian Award. Next came her biggest hit 'Phir Milenge' in 2004 opposite Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan. She played the role of a 25-year-old woman, who brings in a whiff of fresh air resplendent with happiness in other peoples lives until one day her world comes crashing down and she goes seeking justice. Her in-depth emotional performance in the movie won her accolades and acclaim from the critics and the moviegoers alike. She won two Awards in the category of Best actress and earned seven nominations including Filmfare, Zee Cine and Star Screen's Awards. Shilpa has also appeared in 'Fareb' {2005} along with her younger sister and Bollywood actress Shamita Shetty.

In May 2003, Shilpa Shetty hit the media headlines for wrong reasons. She and her family members were allegedly accused of having links with underworld dons. It was reported in the media that her father pulled the underworld connections and threatened Pankaj Agarwal, the owner of Praful Sarees, who evaded paying the balance fee involving crores of rupees for her modeling assignment dating back to 1998. The matter is now in the court of law.

Shilpa Shetty was hit by another scandal involving obscenity photographs of herself and Reema Sen that got published in a leading Tamil Newspaper in its December 2005 and January 2006 issues. The said photographs attracted the sections of Indian Penal Code Section 292 (Sale of Obscene Books), Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1956.

In another controversy, series of riots broke out in several cities when Richard Gere kissed Shilpa on the cheek several times during an AIDS-awareness program held in India on April 26th 2007. Hindu fundamentalists took to streets in protest of the so-called indecent behavior in public places and burnt their effigies in wrath. In Rajasthan, Shilpa and Richard Gere were reportedly issued summons in the matter by a court of law. In January of 2007, Shilpa Shetty has reportedly written a letter asking the then Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal to frame guidelines against filing lawsuits involving artists.

Shilpa Shetty's fame rose to dizzying heights when she participated and won the Celebrity Big Brother contest on January 28th, 2007 on UK television, wherein she won Rs.3.15 crores in prize money. The opponents Jo O'Meara, Danielle Lloyd, and Jade Goody began a scathing attack on Shilpa Shetty trying to tear her dignity to rags with degrading and disparaging remarks. She was called 'The Dog' and was suggested to pick the chicken bones out with her teeth, when she threw the chicken soup down the toilet. In spite of taking the flak with tears rolling down on several occasions, she never lost her composure and calm; and after winning the contest she coolly said, "People say things in anger" in response to a question if she suffered racism at their hands during the contest.

The bold and the beautiful star, according to the Sunday Mirror is currently dating a London millionaire. Earlier she was romantically involved with Akshay Kumar, her co-star in 'Mai Khiladi Tu Anari', who is now married to actress Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of a former romantic hero in the early 70s, Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, an ex-Bollywood hot sensation.

They say controversies follow the famous; this is exactly right in the case of Shilpa as she is now truly a celebrity of international fame. Reports have been surfacing in the media that Shilpa has been offered to play the role of the next Bond girl. If this is true this will be a great achievement by an Indian to take Indian actors a step closer to their contemporaries in Hollywood. Apart from the Bond girl role Shilpa also is reportedly in talks to act in several Hollywood movies.

Bollywood Sex Bomb, Hollywood Movie offers, Bond Girl, Brand ambassador for several International brands, Own Line of Perfume and the Celebrity Big Brother win wonder what is next for this Sexy actress from India.