Girija Shettar British Indian actress embarked on her career with Mani Ratnam’s directorial ‘Geethanjali’ and shared screen space with Nagarjun Akkineni.
While the actress appeared in various films throughout her career, she is acknowledged for her role in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.
In Mani Ratnam’s seminal 1989 romantic classic, the audience witnessed a lively, free-spirited performance by Girija. Reminiscing about her experience of working on Geethanjali, the actress shared with the media that Indian in films, her niche was best demonstrated in Geethanjali. That character, Geethanjali, was a unique type of heroine for the time.
After the success of Geethanjali, Girija featured in Priyadarshan’s directorial “Vandanam” in the same year with Mohanlal. In this crime comedy, Girija was featured as the daughter of an extremist who fell in love with the investigator working on her father’s case.
At the zenith of her career, Girija’s Malayalam film Dhanushkodi was abruptly dropped due to budget troubles, and her promising Bollywood debut in
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar slipped away.
After shooting the first schedule of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Girija had to rush to London due to some personal reasons, resulting in her replacement by Ayesha Jhulka.
Girija’s exit coincided with most of the film’s cast being replaced, including Milind Soman. Later, Deepak Tijori stepped in as his replacement.
Years later, Girija, now a journalist, reflected on her decision to step away from the film industry: “There was a lot of upheaval involved, and it was disorientating…”she had no idea what she could offer this world, nor what it could offer her.
she shared.
Earlier amidst an interview with a news agency, the actress admitted that she had stopped watching Indian films, fearing that they might trigger deep-seated regrets.
After years away from the limelight, Girija Shettar eventually staged a comeback in 2024 with a Kannada film titled Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali.
Talking over her return to the big screen the actress revealed to the news agency that she did not plan it; rather, “the opportunity came in on its own timing.”
News Edit KV Raman
