The metamorphosis of Shilpa Shetty

Shivangi Singh

"I have never considered myself to be beautiful. I didn`t have the face to be an actress. The metamorphosis of Shilpa Shetty was slow and steady. See my first film and see me today. There`s a vast difference. I have changed so much. Physically, mentally…” – Shilpa Shetty Tall, gaunt and dark, Shilpa Shetty never considered herself beautiful. But there was something in her that wanted the world to sit up and look at her with admiration. She wanted to transform and dreamt of being the ‘fairest of them all’. Her dream gave way to a full-fledged career plan and thus began the story of Shilpa’s metamorphosis from an ordinary girl to a super gorgeous diva. The long-legged lass as a teenager worked hard to sculpt her frame to perfection and bagged Limca modeling assignment at the age of 16. Bollywood noticed her charms and she was offered ‘Baazigar’ (1993). She played a side but noticeable role in the film, portraying a woman murdered by her psychopathic boyfriend. The potential in her was realized as she got nominated in ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ category but Shilpa was not happy with her look in the film. She wanted to go for a nose job. She looked hot but overall her nose and hairstyle needed a makeover. She boldly went for a plastic surgery and unlike other actresses, candidly admitted to it. With a perfectly made-up face, good hair styling, curvaceous body and disarming smile, Shilpa Shetty was all set to rule as a beauty. The physical transformation was more or less done, but mentally she was still vulnerable. The actress, born in a traditional close-knit family in Mangalore that hails from the matrilineal Bunt community, was unaware of the ways of the big bad film world. She couldn’t spot the ugly behind the flashy façade and charming smiles. “I got to know after Akshay and I broke off, that Akshay was cheating on me all along” Her torrid love affair with co-star Akshay Kumar, created ripples in the tinsel town for years till the affair lasted. Later, a friend of Akshay disclosed to a news daily, that Akshay was the first one to bed Shilpa and how innocent and vulnerable the actress was. "Akshay told us that Shilpa was a very innocent girl when they met. She may not have even kissed a man before they started dating and she insisted on taking things very slowly. Shilpa wanted to hold hands and loved romantic gestures. After a few years though, their relationship moved on to a new level and she felt that she could trust Akshay,” the friend said to the news daily. Shilpa talked of the episode later in life, “When I was with Akshay, I thought it was the ultimate relationship and if it came to an end, I would die. Today, when it no longer exists, I am feeling extremely relieved and raring to go. Out of sight is out of mind here. Doing special appearances was the best thing that happened to me.” “I think she thought she was going to marry him and she would never have slept with a man if she didn`t think it was serious. After that first time Shilpa wouldn`t leave Akshay alone and wanted to spend more and more time with him. He told us that she was truly sensational in bed. He also said that her prim and proper nature soon disappeared in the heat of the moment. She sounded pretty crazy when it came to sex," the friend added. Shilpa and Akshay went around steadily and then their much-hyped love-affair came down like a house of cards. Shilpa was shattered when she found that Akshay was two-timing her and dating her best friend Twinkle Khanna. Soon, Akshay broke up with Shilpa and began a new relationship with Shilpa’s close friend Twinkle (now his wife). Shilpa tried to move on as she got accolades in movies like ‘Pardesi Babu’ and ‘Dhadkan’. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in ‘Dhadkan’, in which she once again came face-to-face with her ex-lover, Akshay. Her sizzling item numbers in ‘Main Aayi Hoon UP Bihar Lootne’ and ‘Aaila re’ went on to be chartbusters and she began to be seen as one of the hottest actresses in filmdom. And if her ex-affair did not get her enough bad publicity, she once again came under the scanner again for her love affair with married director Anubhav Sinha. Although, in an interview, Shetty quashed rumours of her romance with Anubhav, but a close friend of the actress said that she was ‘in love’ with Sinha and that he was her ‘soulmate’, but that she could not be with him for fear of parental disapproval, social stigma and adverse public perception. The love affair came to an end soon after. “This is what today`s UK is? Scary” All was not going well on her professional front, but just when she was on the verge of being written off by film gurus the miracle, ‘Big Brother’, happened to her. Shilpa was invited to be a part of the Celebrity Big Brother UK 2007, which she happily accepted. But in the house, she faced racial abuse from contestants Jade Goody, Jo O’Meara and Danielle Lloyd. The video clippings were shown on TV and it evoked a strong response internationally. She was applauded for handling the unsavoury situation with grace and aplomb as the world came together to support her cause. Jade Goody was widely condemned for her behaviour and Shilpa went on to win the show that changed her life. Her poise, her beauty, her grace became international headlines. She was living the dream that she had cherished as a girl. She had braved it all – controversies, heartbreak, failure, to be where she was. She was showered with accolades and honours. She was invited by MP Keith Vaz to meet former Prime Minister Tony Blair at an event at the House of Commons. She was also invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II at Marlborough House in 2007. The British production company TwoFour produced a documentary ‘The Real Shilpa Shetty’. "Oh my God, so much has been blown out of proportion" Even after her glorious win, controversies did not leave her alone. There were more troubles ahead for Shilpa. Crowds burned posters of Shilpa Shetty and Richard Gere when the actor kissed her on her cheek and neck at an AIDS awareness event. Shilpa said that the action was innocent and defended Gere strongly, "He was trying to strike his dance pose from ‘Shall We Dance’, his previous movie, and he kind of, you know, just bent over me and he kissed me on the cheeks - I mean, that was it!” But the actress faced much flak owing to the kiss controversy in 2007. Recently, she once again faced storm when news leaked of her affair with Britain-based NRI entrepreneur Raj Kundra. Raj Kundra’s ex-wife Kavita publicly accused Shilpa of breaking up their marriage. She claimed her husband had become so obsessed with Shilpa that reconciliation was impossible. Shilpa was livid stating, “I was really upset by what she said. She knew very well that I didn’t even know her husband when she walked out on him. I didn’t even know him when I went into ‘Big Brother’. I have known him for about only six months, which was four months after his wife had left home and he had already got a divorce by then.” However, the controversy has subsided now. “He respects and understands what I do and it is nice to be cared for. I have been very lonely for a very long time and it is nice to know I have somebody to look forward to seeing at the end of the day. At last I feel normal.” At last Shilpa is happy with the way her life is shaping. In February this year, Shilpa and Raj Kundra became part owners of the Indian Premier League franchise cricket team of Rajasthan Royals. Shilpa is doing some good cinema and life is smooth for her now. The stunning beauty seems to have finally reached fulfillment...physically and mentally! QUICK FACTS: Nickname: Manya Date of Birth: 8 June, 1975 Sign: Gemini Height: 5`10 Country: Tamil Nadu, India Mother: Sunanda Shetty Father: Surendra Shetty Siblings: Younger sister Shamita Marital status: Single Education: Podar College Likes: Crazy about Hindi film songs especially the old ones Favorite food: Kori Roti-It`s a Manglorean speciality-chicken with roti made of rice Favorite color: Black and yellow Her hero: Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Jackie Chan, and Tom Cruise Her heroine: Sridevi Other facts: Shilpa was her school team`s baseball captain and she is a black belt Karate champion Hobbies: Acting, dancing, cooking, and working out Occupation: Model/Bollywood actress Languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Tulu, Telugu, Tamil and can understand French