Meet Anushka Shetty teacher-turned popular face in Bollywood

Meet Anushka Shetty
teacher-turned popular face in Bollywood

Invariably it has been a goad for actresses in Hindi cinema-Bollywood, to attain the same level of fame as their male counterparts and to sustain lead roles over time. Though male actors often continue to thrive as superstars even as they age, actresses are seldom given the same opportunities. But, Anushka Shetty managed to maintain a strong presence in the industry through sheer talent, personality and perseverance.

Anushka once worked as a school teacher, made a successful and made a transition into the South film industry. She has shared screen space with many of the top stars in South Indian cinema, carving out a unique identity for herself. Today, she is regarded as a Superstar in both Tamil and Telugu film industries.

In Tamil cinema, Anushka Shetty has shared the screen with stars such as Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya, Vikram, and Karthi. In Telugu cinema, she has acted opposite leading names including Nagarjuna, Ravi Teja, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, and Rana Daggubati.

The actress made her Tamil film debut in 2006 with “Rendu”  opposite R. Madhavan and went on to appear in notable films such as Vettaikaaran, Singam, Deiva Thirumagal, Vaanam, and Lingaa.

Even as the 2009 dark fantasy Arundhati won wide acclaim, it was the 2015 epic Baahubali that established Anushka Shetty as a Pan-India star.

After the success of Baahubali, Anushka took a bold and unconventional step with the film Inji Iduppazhagi. At a time when weight transformations were largely seen among male actors, she gained significant weight for her role, portraying a plus-sized woman and highlighting the emotional struggles faced by women with larger bodies.

This performance was hailed for its bravery, though it is said that film offers started to decline for her thereafter.

Nonetheless, film Baahubali 2 went on to emerge as the
highest-grossing film in Anushka Shetty’s career. More recently, she appeared in the film Ghaati.

Remarkably, Anushka continues to hold her place as a leading actress even at the age of 40.

Before her acting career, Anushka Shetty worked as a yoga teacher at Eastwood School in Bengaluru, a lesser-known fact. A photo from her teaching days has recently surfaced and is going viral on social media.

Having primarily focused on Tamil and Telugu films, Anushka Shetty is now making her debut in Malayalam cinema. She is set to appear in the upcoming Malayalam film Kathanar: The Wild Sorcerer. Notably, Anushka Shetty has expressed that going forward, she intends to take on films that offer compelling and meaningful narratives.

News Edit KV Raman