Anushka Shetty

Sweety Shetty, known professionally as Anushka Shetty, is an Indian actress who works primarily in Tamil and Telugu films. Over a career spanning more than two decades as a lead actress, media sources have referred to her as the "Queen of South Indian cinema." Recognized as one of the highest-paid actresses in India, her accolades include three Filmfare Awards South, two Nandi Awards, two SIIMA Awards, and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award. In 2010, she was honored with the Kalaimamani award by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Shetty was born on 7 November 1981 in Mangalore, Karnataka, into an ethnic Tulu-speaking Bunt family from Bellipady village in Puttur taluk. Her parents are Prafulla and A. N. Vittal Shetty, and she has two elder brothers, Gunaranjan and Sai Ramesh. She completed her Bachelor of Computer Applications at Mount Carmel College in Bangalore and trained as a yoga instructor under Bharat Thakur. During her debut film, director Puri Jagannadh and producer Nagarjuna chose the screen name Anushka, inspired by singer Anushka Manchanda, feeling her birth name Sweety was less appealing for a film career.

She made her acting debut in the 2005 Telugu film Super, which earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress – Telugu nomination. That same year, she appeared in Mahanandi. In 2006, she starred in S. S. Rajamouli's commercial success Vikramarkudu, followed by Astram, her Tamil debut Rendu, and a special appearance in Stalin. Between 2007 and 2008, she featured in several box office successes, including Lakshyam, Don, Souryam, and Chintakayala Ravi, as well as films like Okka Magaadu, Swagatam, and Baladoor.

Shetty achieved major public recognition in 2009 with her dual role in the dark fantasy film Arundhati, winning her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and a Nandi Special Jury Award. She followed this with roles in Billa and Vettaikkaran. In 2010, her portrayal of a prostitute in Vedam earned her a second consecutive Filmfare Award. That year, she also starred in Panchakshari, Khaleja, Nagavalli, Ragada, and the commercially successful Tamil police drama Singam.

Her career expanded further in Tamil cinema with performances in Vaanam and Deiva Thirumagal in 2011, winning the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for the latter. In subsequent years, she appeared in Thaandavam, Damarukam, Mirchi, Singam II, Irandam Ulagam, Lingaa, and Yennai Arindhaal. She earned additional Filmfare nominations during this period for her performances in Damarukam and Mirchi.

In 2015, Shetty portrayed Princess Devasena in S. S. Rajamouli's blockbuster Baahubali: The Beginning and played the titular monarch in the historical fiction Rudhramadevi, winning her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for the latter. She also played a plus-sized woman in Size Zero. She later reprised her role as Devasena in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), receiving critical praise for her performance. Her other projects during this period included Si3 and Om Namo Venkatesaya.

Following her work in major Telugu and Tamil productions, Shetty prepared to make her debut in Malayalam cinema with the project Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer. Marking the 50th film of her career, the release is expected in the second half of 2026.