Shilpa Shetty Bio

Shilpa Shetty is an Indian film actress and model. Since making her debut in the film Baazigar (1993), she has appeared in nearly 40 Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, her first leading role being in the 1994 film Aag. Although she has been through years of decline during her career, Shetty has been willing to reinvent herself quite often.

Her performances in Dhadkan (2000) and Rishtey (2002) were appreciated, while her portrayal of an AIDS patient in Phir Milenge (2004) won her many accolades. Her younger sister Shamita Shetty is also a Bollywood film actress.

After taking part in the British Celebrity Big Brother TV show in 2007, Shetty was crowned the winner with 63% of the final vote, after an international racism controversy involving her and fellow contestants Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd. This was followed by a re-establishment of her status in the film industry in 2007 when she appeared in two successive movies, Life in a... Metro and Apne, with her performance in the former drawing positive reviews.

Shilpa Shetty's parents are Surendra and Sunanda Shetty. Actress Shamita Shetty is her sister. She attended St. Anthony Girls' High School, Chembur and later attended Podar College, Matunga, Mumbai. She has been captain of her school's baseball team.

She is also a black-belt karate champion.In 1993, she made her debut in the film BaazigarShe started her career as a model in advertisements at the age of 16.

Since than she has appeared in many films including Baazigar, Aag, Aao Pyar Karen, Hathkadi and Auzaar.Shilpa has been in Bollywood since 1993. In that time she has been nominated for Filmfare Award 4 times and appeared in nearly 50 films.She was nominated for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards for her role in Dhadkan.

She also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rishtey.Shilpa is an AIDS activist and also is a member of PETA which campaigns for animal rights.

Sahara One crowned her the 2004 DIVA of the year.In 2007, Shilpa starred in Celebrity Big Brother in England.

She was the first ever Indian actress to enter the house and was pronounced the winner of Celebrity Big Brother on January 28 2007.

In February 2007, Shetty attended a reception at the House of Commons by invitation of Keith Vaz MP to meet with then Prime Minister Tony Blair. She was also invited to meet with Queen Elizabeth II at Marlborough House in London in March 2007.

During an interview on This Morning, Shetty confirmed that she had been asked to act in the British EastEnders soap opera, and turned it down as it would mean all her other arrangements would have to go on hold.