An actor (usually actress for female; see terminology) is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity. The ancient Greek word for an "actor," ''(hypokrites)'', means literally "one who interprets"; in this sense, an actor is one who interprets a dramatic character.

Terminology

After 1660, when women first appeared on stage, ''actor'' and ''actress'' were initially used interchangeably for female performers, but later, influenced by the French ''actrice'', ''actress'' became the usual term. The etymology is a simple derivation from ''actor'' with ''ess'' added. The word ''actor'' refers to a person who acts regardless of gender, and "is increasingly preferred", while ''actress'' refers specifically to a female person who acts. ''Actress'' "remains in general use", although in a survey of a "wide cross-section of current British English", compiled in 2010, ''actor'' was almost twice as commonly found as ''actress''. Within the profession, however, the re-adoption of the neutral term dates to the 1950s–60s, the post-war period when women's contribution to cultural life in general was being re-evaluated. ''Actress'' remains the common term used in major acting awards given to female recipients.

The gender-neutral term "player" was common in film in the early days of the Motion Picture Production Code with regards to the cinema of the United States, but is now generally deemed archaic. However, it remains in use in the theatre, often incorporated into the name of a theatre group or company (such as the East West Players).

History

The first recorded case of an actor performing took place in 534 BC (though the changes in calendar over the years make it hard to determine exactly) when the Greek performer Thespis stepped on to the stage at the ''Theatre Dionysus'' and became the first known person to speak words as a character in a play or story. Prior to Thespis' act, stories were only known to be told in song and dance and in third person narrative. In honour of Thespis, actors are commonly called ''Thespians''. Theatrical legend to this day maintains that Thespis exists as a mischievous spirit, and disasters in the theatre are sometimes blamed on his ghostly intervention.

Actors were traditionally not people of high status, and in the Early Middle Ages travelling acting troupes were often viewed with distrust. In many parts of Europe, actors could not even receive a Christian burial, and traditional beliefs of the region and time period held that this left any actor forever condemned. However, this negative perception was largely reversed in the 19th and 20th centuries as acting has become an honoured and popular profession and art.

Techniques

Method acting

Method acting is a technique developed from the acting 'system' created in the early 20th century by Konstantin Stanislavski in his work at the Moscow Art Theatre and its studios. The Group Theatre first popularised the Method in the 1930s; it was subsequently advanced and developed in new directions by Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen, Lee Strasberg (at the Actors Studio in the 1940s and 50s), and others. In Stanislavski's system', the actor analyzes the character in order to play him or her with psychological realism and emotional authenticity. Using the Method, an actor may recall emotions or reactions from his or her own life and use them to identify with the character being portrayed.

Method actors are often characterized as immersing themselves so totally in their characters that they continue to portray them even off-stage or off-camera for the duration of the project. However, this is a popular misconception. While some actors do employ this approach, it is generally not taught as part of the Method. Stella Adler, who was a member of the Group Theatre, along with Strasberg, emphasised a different approach of using creative imagination.

Method acting offers a systematic form of actor training in which the actor's sensory, psychological, and emotional abilities are developed; it revolutionized theatre in the United States.

Presentational and representational acting

Presentational acting refers to a relationship between actor and audience, whether by direct address or indirectly by specific use of language, looks, gestures or other signs indicating that the character or actor is aware of the audience's presence. (Shakespeare's use of punning and wordplay, for example, often has this function of indirect contact.)

In representational acting, "actors want to make us 'believe' they are the character; they pretend." The illusion of the fourth wall with the audience as voyeurs is striven for.

As opposite gender

In the past, only men could become actors in some societies. In the ancient Greece and Rome and the medieval world, it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go on the stage, and this belief persisted until the 17th century, when in Venice it was broken. In the time of William Shakespeare, women's roles were generally played by men or boys.

When an eighteen year Puritan prohibition of drama was lifted after the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear on stage in England. Margaret Hughes is credited by some as the first professional actress on the English stage. This prohibition ended during the reign of Charles II in part due to the fact that he enjoyed watching actresses on stage. The first occurrence of the term ''actress'' was in 1700 according to the OED and is ascribed to Dryden.

In Japan, men (onnagata) took over the female roles in kabuki theatre when women were banned from performing on stage during the Edo period. This convention has continued to the present. However, some forms of Chinese drama have women playing all the roles.

In modern times, women sometimes play the roles of prepubescent boys. The stage role of Peter Pan, for example, is traditionally played by a woman, as are most principal boys in British pantomime. Opera has several "breeches roles" traditionally sung by women, usually mezzo-sopranos. Examples are Hansel in ''Hänsel und Gretel'', Cherubino in ''The Marriage of Figaro'' and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier.

Women in male roles are uncommon in film with the notable exceptions of the films ''The Year of Living Dangerously'' and ''I'm Not There''. In the former film Linda Hunt played the pivotal role of Billy Kwan, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In the latter film Cate Blanchett portrayed Jude Quinn, a representation of Bob Dylan in the sixties, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Having an actor dress as the opposite sex for comic effect is also a long-standing tradition in comic theatre and film. Most of Shakespeare's comedies include instances of overt cross-dressing, such as Francis Flute in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. The movie ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'' stars Jack Gilford dressing as a young bride. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon famously posed as women to escape gangsters in the Billy Wilder film ''Some Like It Hot''. Cross-dressing for comic effect was a frequently used device in most of the thirty Carry On films. Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams have each appeared in a hit comedy film (''Tootsie'' and ''Mrs. Doubtfire'', respectively) in which they played most scenes dressed as a woman.

Occasionally, the issue is further complicated, for example, by a woman playing a woman acting as a man pretending to be a woman, like Julie Andrews in ''Victor/Victoria'', or Gwyneth Paltrow in ''Shakespeare in Love''. In ''It's Pat: The Movie'', filmwatchers never learn the gender of the androgynous main characters Pat and Chris (played by Julia Sweeney and Dave Foley).

A few roles in modern films, plays and musicals are played by a member of the opposite sex (rather than a character cross-dressing), such as the character Edna Turnblad in ''Hairspray''—played by Divine in the original film, Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway musical, and John Travolta in the 2007 movie musical. Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Billy Kwan in ''The Year of Living Dangerously''. Felicity Huffman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Bree Osbourne (a man in the process of becoming a woman) in ''Transamerica''.

Acting awards

Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, for American film

AFI Awards for Australian film

Berlinale German film festival in Berlin (Golden and Silver Bear)

British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for film and television; also known as BAFTA

Cannes Film Festival Awards

César Awards for French film

Emmy Awards for American television

FAMAS Awards for Filipino cinema

Filmfare Awards honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry (Bollywood) – limited to Hindi language films only

Filmfare Awards South honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry (South Indian) – limited to Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada language films only

Genie Awards for Canadian film

Gemini Awards for Canadian television

Golden Globe Awards for American film and television

Golden Raspberry Awards Worst in American film

Goya Awards for Spanish film

IIFA Awards International Indian Film Academy Awards, for Bollywood

IFTA's for the Irish Film and Television

Star Screen Awards honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry.

Indian National Film Awards for the Indian cinema

Kerala State Film Awards in India for the Malayalam cinema

Laurence Olivier Awards for the theatre

Lux Style Awards for Pakistan film

Nandi Awards in India for Telugu cinema

Nigar Awards also for Pakistani film

San Sebastián International Film Festival Spanish film festival Celebrated in San Sebastián

Sarah Siddons Award for female actress in Chicago Theatre

Screen Actors Guild Awards for American actors in film and television

Tony Awards for the theatre (specifically, Broadway theatre)

Volpi Cups at the Venice Film Festival

See also

Acting

Bit part

Body double

Cameo appearance

Casting (performing arts)

Cast member

Celebrity

Character actor

Charisma

Child actor

Drama school

Dramatis personæ

Ensemble cast

Extra (actor)

GOTE

Improvisational theatre

Leading actor

Lists of actors

Master of Fine Arts

Matinee idol

Method acting

Meisner technique

Mime

Movie star

Movie studio

Pornographic actor

Practical Aesthetics

Pre-production

Presentational acting and Representational acting

Q Score

Stunt work

Supporting actor

Thespis

Understudy

Vaudeville

Viewpoints

Voice Actor

References

Sources

Csapo, Eric, and William J. Slater. 1994. ''The Context of Ancient Drama.'' Ann Arbor: The U of Michigan P. ISBN 0-472-08275-2.

Elam, Keir. 1980. ''The Semiotics of Theatre and Drama''. New Accents Ser. London and New York: Methuen. ISBN 0-416-72060-9.

Weimann, Robert. 1978. ''Shakespeare and the Popular Tradition in the Theater: Studies in the Social Dimension of Dramatic Form and Function.'' Ed. Robert Schwartz. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-3506-2.

Further reading

''An Actor's Work'' by Constantin Stanislavski

''A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method'' by Lee Strasberg (Plume Books, ISBN 0-452-26198-8, 1990)

''Sanford Meisner on Acting'' by Sanford Meisner (Vintage, ISBN 0-394-75059-4, 1987)

''Letters to a Young Actor'' by Robert Brustein (Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-00806-2, 2005).

''The Empty Space'' by Peter Brook

''The Technique of Acting'' by Stella Adler

External links

Actors' Equity Association (AEA): a union representing U. S. theatre actors and stage managers.

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA): a union representing U. S. television and radio actors and broadcasters (on-air journalists, etc.).

British Actors' Equity: a trade union representing UK artists, including actors, singers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, theatre directors and designers, variety and circus artists, television and radio presenters, walk-on and supporting artists, stunt performers and directors and theatre fight directors.

Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance: an Australian/New Zealand trade union representing everyone in the media, entertainment, sports, and arts industries.

Screen Actors Guild (SAG): a union representing U. S. film and TV actors.

Category:Entertainment occupations Category:Acting Category:Theatrical professions Category:Television terminology

als:Schauspieler ar:ممثل an:Actor ast:Actor az:Aktyor bn:অভিনেতা zh-min-nan:Ián-goân be-x-old:Актор bs:Glumac br:Aktour bg:Актьор ca:Actor cs:Herec cy:Actor da:Skuespiller de:Schauspieler et:Näitleja el:Ηθοποιός eo:Aktoro eu:Aktore fa:هنرپیشه fr:Acteur fy:Akteur ga:Aisteoir gd:Actair gl:Actor ko:배우 hr:Glumac io:Aktoro id:Pemeran is:Leikari it:Attore he:שחקן ka:მსახიობი sw:Mwigizaji la:Actor lv:Aktieris lb:Lëscht vu Filmschauspiller lt:Aktorius jbo:xeldraci hu:Színész mk:Глумец ml:അഭിനേതാവ് mr:अभिनेता ms:Pelakon nl:Acteur nds-nl:Akteur ja:俳優 no:Skuespiller nn:Skodespelar nov:Aktore oc:Actor or:ଅଭିନେତ୍ରୀ(ନାରୀ କଳାକାର) uz:Aktyor ps:لوبګر pl:Aktor pt:Ator ro:Actor qu:Aranway pukllaq ru:Актёр sq:Aktori simple:Actor sk:Herec sl:Igralec (umetnik) sr:Глумац sh:Glumci fi:Näyttelijä sv:Skådespelare tl:Artista ta:நடிகர் th:นักแสดง tg:Ҳунарпеша (филм) tr:Oyuncu uk:Актор ur:اداکار vec:Ator vi:Diễn viên wa:Acteur di cinema yi:אקטיאר bat-smg:Aktuorios zh:演員

name	Atiqa Odho
birth date	February 12, 1968
birth place	Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
occupation	Actress, Host, Make-up artist, Hairstylist
website	http://www.atiqaodho.com/ }}

Atiqa Odho (Urdu: عتیقہ اوڈھو; born 12 February 1968) is a Pakistani television and film actress and television host. She debuted in Anwar Maqsood's TV series ''Sitara aur Mehrunissa'' and later starred in a string of successful films, including ''Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya'', ''Mummy'' and ''Mujhe Chand Chahiye''.

Biography

Odho was born in Karachi, Pakistan on February 12, 1968. She originally belongs to Village Tajodero, District Jacobabad. Her native village is in the name of her grandfather Late Taj Muhammad Khan Odho. She is married, and has three children. She started her professional life as a make-up artist and hairstylist in 1989. While working as a make-up artist for various advertising agencies in Karachi, she was discovered by television personality, Anwar Maqsood. She starred in his play, "Sitara Aur Mehrunissa" in 1993; the role turned her into a household name in Pakistan. In 1995, she made her film debut in ''Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya''.

Odho has since worked in many popular television and film projects and has been actively involved in both media and the cosmetic industry in Pakistan. She resides in the UAE and Pakistan.

Social work

Since 2009, she has also been engaged in philanthropic activities. She has been working for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Fatmeed Foundation and as a social worker in "Hamara Mulk, Hamaray Log". She is currently the CEO of Odho Cosmetics, and Odho Productions. She is also the ambassador for the campaign on awareness of breast cancer in Pakistan.

Politics

In 2010-11, Odho became a member of the All Pakistan Muslim League.

On June 5, 2011, Odho was caught at Islamabad Airport for possessing two bottles of imported liquor. She was scheduled to travel to Karachi from Islamabad by PK-319 flight. Odho told ASF officials that she had previously been taking champagne but none stopped her before. She was allowed to go by the officials without taking any action apparently due to influence used by her.

Subsequently, she tendered her resignation from party’s basic membership following the instructions of APML’s senior leaders.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took suo moto notice of the incident and the case was taken up for hearing on 8 June 2011. Sources said the FIR had been lodged on behalf of an Assistant Collector Pakistan Customs in the Airport Police Station. She has been booked on the charges of carrying two bottles of imported wine.

Filmography

Films

''Jo Darr Gya Woh Marr Gya''

''Mummy''

''Mujhe Chand Chahiye''

Television long-plays

''Aaks'': 1991 / PTV

''Talaash'': 1992 / PTV

''Zikar Hay Kayi Saal Ka''': 1996 / PTV

''Tu Laak Chalay Re Gorey'' : 2001 / PTV

''Aab Yaha Koi Nahi Aye Ga'': 2002/ Indus Vision

''Baykhabri'': 2003 / Indus Vision

''Marium'': 2004 / Indus Vision

''Tum Intezar Karna :2007 / Aaj TV

''Chalo Phir Se Jee Lain'': 2008 / Ary Digital

Television serials

''Sitara Aur Mehrunissa'' (1992)

''Dasht'' (1990)

''Nijat'' (1993)

''Angar Wadi'' (1994)

''Junoon'' (2000)

''Tum Hee To Ho'' (1999)

''Aan'' (2001)

''Kirchiyan'' (2002)

''Cahahtain'' (2003)

''Harjai'' (2004)

''Karishmay'' (2007)

''Nasl'' (2003)

''Atiqa O'' (2008)

''Hum Tum'' (2010)

''Saans'' (2011)

References

External links

Odho Cosmetics

Odho Productions

Category:Living people Category:Pakistani film actors Category:Pakistani television actors Category:1968 births Category:All Pakistan Muslim League politicians Category:Pakistani women in politics Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates Category:Pakistani hairdressers Category:Pakistani actor-politicians Category:Make-up artists Category:Pakistani social workers Category:People from Jacobabad District Category:People from Karachi Category:Sindhi people

name	Shilpa Shetty
birth date	June 08, 1975
birth place	Mangalore, Karnataka, India
occupation	Actress, model
birth name	Shilpa Shetty
yearsactive	1993–present
website	www.shilpashettylive.com
spouse	Raj Kundra (2009–present) }}

Shilpa Shetty (Tulu: ; born 8 June 1975) 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 ''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.

Shetty has been embroiled in various controversies including suspected mafia links. In 2006 she was issued with a warrant on charges of obscenity. 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.

Biography

Shilpa Shetty was born in a traditional close-knit family in Mangalore that hails from the Bunt community.

She is the eldest daughter of Surendra and Sunanda Shetty, manufacturers of tamper-proof caps for the pharmaceutical industry, and her native language is Tulu although she speaks several other languages at differing levels, including English, Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, Urdu and basic French.

In Mumbai, she attended St. Anthony Girls' High School in Chembur, and later attended Podar College in Matunga. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she is also into sports, was the captain of the volleyball team in school, has earned a black belt in karate and is currently a dancesport expert and enthusiast.

Shetty's younger sister Shamita Shetty is also a Bollywood actress. They worked together once in the film ''Fareb'' (2005).

At 5 ft 8.5 in (174 cm) barefoot, Shilpa Shetty is among the tallest actresses in Bollywood. It was revealed on 29 March 2009 that Shilpa had purchased a house on St. George's Hill in Surrey, England with her husband Raj Kundra.

Career

Film career

Shetty started her career by modelling for Limca in 1991 at age 16, and made her film debut in 1993 with ''Baazigar'', portraying a woman murdered by her psychopathic boyfriend. Shetty took the supporting role of Seema, co-starring alongside Shahrukh Khan and Kajol; the film was a major success and earned her a nomination for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

Her first leading role was in the film ''Aag'' in 1994, which was averagely received at the box office. She had a hit that same year with the film ''Main Khiladi Tu Anari'' opposite Akshay Kumar. This was followed by many films which were average to poor performers at the box office. Shetty starred in another big film that year, ''Aao Pyaar Karen'', followed in 1995 by ''Hathkadi'', where she was working alongside actors such as Saif Ali Khan, Govinda and Madhoo, but they failed at the box office. 1997 was one of her busiest years: she appeared in six different films, beginning with the Telugu language film ''Veedeva Dani Babu''. Her first major Bollywood film of that year was the action thriller ''Auzaar''. Shilpa portrayed the character of Prathna Thakur alongside actors Salman Khan and Sanjay Kapoor. In 1998, she had one release, ''Pardesi Babu'', for which she received critical acclaim and won the Bollywood Movie Award for ''Best Supporting Actress''. In 2000, Shetty received much acclaim for her role in ''Dhadkan'' which earned reasonable takings at the Indian box office. She received several nominations under the Best Actress category in different award ceremonies. She would later go on to star with Anil Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor in the film ''Rishtey'' (2002). Her comic performance as an eccentric fisherwoman was appreciated and she received a nomination under the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award category and various nominations for Best Comedian as well.

2004 was also a good year for Shetty with the release of ''Garv'' in which she portrayed a Muslim orphan and disillusioned table dancer starring opposite Salman Khan. According to Shetty, she chose to do the film because she liked the subject. The film was a cop drama. However, she received much acclaim for her performance in ''Phir Milenge'', where she made a sensitive portrayal of a successful city high-flyer who contracts HIV via unprotected sex and becomes a social outcast as a result. The film, based on 1993's ''Philadelphia'', was perceived to have tackled a social taboo as yet unaddressed by Bollywood. The film earned Shetty a Filmfare Best Actress nomination, and provided an impetus for her HIV-related charity work (see below). Film critic Taran Adarsh from ''indiaFM'' noted, "Phir Milenge belongs to Shilpa Shetty completely. She delivers, what can be rightly called, the performance of her career. The viewer feels and empathises with the character mainly because of her effective portrayal. She conveys the pain and the emotional upheaval through her expressive eyes, making it amongst the most memorable performances the year has seen so far." Shetty stated that she had taken the role in order to reinvent herself by portraying the rather unconventional character of an anti-terrorist squad member. She also starred with her sister in the film ''Fareb'' in 2005. Shilpa had one release in 2006, the much delayed ''Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar''. The film was a box office flop, but she got good reviews for her role as a not entirely likeable wife. In 2006, she was a judge on ''Jhalak Dikhlaja'', a Sony Entertainment Television dance show based on the original UK show ''Strictly Come Dancing''.

Shetty was once featured in Mani Ratnam's stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai.

2007 proved to be Shetty's most successful year at the box office so far. Her first release, ''Life In A... Metro'', won a significant reception, and became the first Bollywood movie to premiere at Leicester Square. The film performed well at the box office, and was declared a semi-hit within three weeks. Additionally, the film was critically acclaimed and Shetty's performance was appreciated, with Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN writing, "It's a terrific performance and unquestionably Shilpa's best to date." Her second release, alongside three Deols, Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby, the drama ''Apne'', was also a box office success.

Celebrity Big Brother 2007

Shetty was a contestant in and the winner of ''Celebrity Big Brother UK''. and was the first Indian celebrity included in the Celebrity version. Reportedly paid Rs.31.5 m (£367,500 GBP) for her participation, she said to presenter Davina McCall, "I just want every Indian to be extremely proud that I'm in here". As for her participation, she stated: "I have zero expectations. The only thing I really hope to keep is my self-respect and my dignity." Her sister Shamita told the ''Times of India'' that this "is the boldest decision Shilpa has taken hitherto."

During her time, Shetty instructed fellow housemates Carole Malone and Ken Russell in meditation, and flirted with Dirk Benedict but tempers started to fray by Day 7 as a clique formed in the house disapproving of Shilpa's presence. Following a worldwide controversy that publicised her as a target of racist bullying within the house (see below), Shetty won the contest after gaining 63% of the public vote and described the experience as "incredible and overwhelming". She further thanked the public for "a fantastic opportunity to make my country proud".

Post Celebrity Big Brother

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.

She was the subject of a Sky One documentary entitled ''The Real Shilpa Shetty'', which was produced by British television production company Twofour. The large number of commercial offers that Shilpa received after winning Celebrity Big Brother themselves became reason for controversy with an increasing number of accusations about her riding the 'racism' wave to commercial gain. She was on the cover of the first issue of OK! Magazine to be sold in India.

In early September 2007 she modelled at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, which also displayed some famous Bollywood actresses including Lara Dutta and Celina Jaitley. As of October 2007, Shilpa will be seen in a musical titled ''Miss Bollywood''. On her agenda next is a cookery book titled ''Soul Curry'' and the role of Sita in Uru Patel's international venture ''Hanuman''.

Bigg Boss

In August 2008, Shetty began hosting the second season of ''Bigg Boss'', the Indian version of ''Big Brother''. Controversially, Jade Goody was one of the initial housemates. Goody left the Bigg Boss House early in the series after receiving news that she had cervical cancer, of which she later died on 22 March 2009.

Indian Premier League

In February 2009 Shilpa and her husband Raj Kundra became part owners of the Indian Premier League franchise cricket team Rajasthan Royals by paying approximately US $15.4 million for a 11.7% stake.

Other commitments

As well as modelling and acting, Shetty has associated herself with several other commercial and non-profit organisations.

HIV-AIDS

In February 2006 Shetty lent support to a BBC World Service Trust television show designed to tackle the problem of HIV-AIDS in India. The project, which also involved other celebrities Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, and Raveena Tandon in separate episodes, featured Shetty as she shadowed a young achiever whose work involved raising awareness about the condition. According to reports, she participated in order to show solidarity with HIV-AIDS sufferers.

The issue is particularly close to Shetty's heart as she had portrayed an HIV-positive sufferer in her 2004 movie ''Phir Milenge''. Speaking about the movie and HIV in general, Shetty said: "Why not a film on HIV positive patients? It is a social stigma in our society. We made this film to highlight this problem ... This film will bring about a social awareness about AIDS in our country. It is high time we talked about this in our society".

PETA

In March 2006 various sources reported Shetty's joining PETA as part of an advertising campaign against the use of wild animals in circuses. According to a PETA India press release, Shetty is a long-time PETA supporter and has assisted the campaign by posing for photographs in a figure-hugging tiger costume. She explained that her crouching in a cage was uncomfortable during the photoshoot, but that her discomfort was insignificant compared to the pain suffered by the creatures. "These once dignified animals only leave their cages, which are barely larger than the size of their bodies, for a few minutes each day to be forced into the ring to perform tricks which make no sense and are upsetting to them. The best way to help animals suffering in circuses is to boycott the circus".

Shetty revealed in a later interview that she felt strongly about this cause and that she was appalled to hear of the cruel treatment suffered by such animals. "I thought I should stop that. If I can make a little difference to their lives, why not go for it?"

Personal life

Shetty is a frequent subject of speculation regarding romance. She previously dated Akshay Kumar, but the couple broke up in 2000 after he started dating Shetty's friend and fellow actress Twinkle Khanna after a previous indiscretion, which led to Shetty's successful suing of ''Stardust Magazine'' for publishing a "damaging" report about the affair.

In an interview for ''The Times of India'', Shetty quashed rumours of a romance with film director Anubhav Sinha and claimed to have changed her mobile phone number in order to concentrate on her busy schedule. But in a later interview for ''The Sunday Mirror'', a friend of Shetty 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 (Sinha is married with two children, although currently separated) and adverse public perception. She married Raj Kundra on 22 November 2009 and announced on her web site that "I am officially Shilpa Shetty Kundra now!!"

Controversies

Alleged mafia links

In May 2003 a controversy erupted over alleged links between Shetty's parents and the Indian underworld. The Surat police issued arrest warrants against her parents on charges of extortion. The Police Commissioner of Surat, D.K. Gupta, told the media that the owners of Praful Sarees had lodged complaints with them after claiming to receive threatening telephone calls from Mumbai-based underworld figures asking for money on behalf of the Shettys. The dispute between the two parties related to a 1998 modelling assignment where Shilpa endorsed Praful Sarees and had only been paid out of a contractually agreed . Agarwal claimed that the full sum had been paid in advance, but he had no knowledge of how much had been paid to Shilpa. Surendra Shetty was refused bail by a Mumbai court although bail was granted to Sunanda, as she had been travelling abroad at the time the warrant was issued. The police further claimed to possess a record of a telephone call between Shilpa's parents and Pankaj Agarwal, the owner of Praful Sarees. The parents denied this and claimed the tape had been "manipulated". Sunanda Shetty held a press conference on 5 June in which she denied that the family had underworld connections and said that the whole fracas was a "plot to tarnish the image of my daughter." She further said that she was "definitely innocent" of the charges and was falsely implicated by Agarwal after he had failed to fully reimburse Shilpa for her work. On 13 June it was reported that after interrogation by the police, Surendra had confessed to establishing contact with associates of Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of the Mumbai gang. A contradictory story surfaced that although the Shettys' driver, Dilip Pashekar, admitted to introducing Surendra to Rehman's associates, Surendra continued to deny that any links were forged. A senior police official confirmed that Surendra had "vehemently denied" his links even though he and Pashekar were interrogated side by side. Shetty's lawyer later clarified that the reports of confessing to Mafia links were false.

Court hearings revealed that, despite Shetty's denials, print-outs of cellular phone records proved that contact between Shetty and the gang had taken place. On 20 June Surendra Shetty was formally arrested after surrendering to the police, later telling news reporters that the entire issue was designed to malign him and his family. When asked about the underworld's involvement, Shetty said "I do not know, I talked to them only after they called up and said they were agents of Agarwal." Further court hearings cast doubt on the veracity of the evidence tapes; Shetty's defence claimed that it was Agarwal who recorded the telephone calls rather than the police, and that the possibility of dubbing or manipulation could not be ruled out. Shilpa was quizzed by police upon her return to India from overseas filming assignments and denied all knowledge of any involvement between her parents and underworld figures, claiming that she had no knowledge of the case until it became public through the media. She further stated that her mother had power of attorney over her financial affairs and disclaimed any knowledge of payment for the Praful Sarees affair. Sunanda's bail hearing was adjourned three times on health grounds.

Another twist occurred when the Shettys' driver, Dilip Pashekhar, was arrested. On 5 November it was reported that Surendra and Sunanda Shetty, among three others, were chargesheeted, paving the way for a trial commencement in a local court. The trial is still pending. In August 2006 Sunanda said that Shilpa had no involvement with the case and that the arrest of Fazl-ur-Rehman earlier that month would not have a negative effect on her career. Shilpa has threatened to claim damages after an unnamed local tabloid allegedly printed incorrect information about the case. In an interview for Filmfare, she said that she was very "cut up" and "devastated" with the way the case had turned into a trial by media and that they had behaved "unethically". She also said that this was the worst controversy she had ever been through, and expressed her thanks to several film figures for standing by her, including Rajkumar Santoshi and Anil Kapoor.

Obscenity charges

In April 2006, a Madurai court issued non-bailable warrants against Shetty and Reema Sen for "posing in an obscene manner" in photographs published by a Tamil newspaper. The report stated that the two actresses had failed to comply with earlier summons for the same reason, hence the issuance of the warrants. The petitioner submitted that the paper had published "very sexy blow-ups and medium blow-ups" in its December 2005 and January 2006 issues, and alleged that these violated the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1956, and the Indian Penal Code Section 292 (Sale of Obscene Books). The petitioner further demanded that the images be confiscated under the terms of the Press and Registration of Book Act 1867.

Shetty responded that she had not received any court summons and also discounted the charges. She further claimed that the pictures were freeze-frame shots from a recent movie that only exposed her navel. "As far as my photographs go, what is obscene about it? If navel-showing is obscenity, then our traditional Indian outfit – the traditional sari – should be banned in the first place."

In January 2007 outgoing Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal confirmed that Shetty had written to him requesting that he enunciate guidelines against frivolous lawsuits against artists, but that he had refused her plea on the grounds that she should have filed a formal petition instead of writing a letter.

Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy

During her time on ''Celebrity Big Brother'', Shetty was allegedly a target of racism and bullying by other housemates, chiefly by Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd. After mocking the east London dialect of Jade Goody's mother, who mispronounced her name as 'Shiwpa', Shetty was mocked for her Indian accent and was branded "The Indian" and a "dog". Disparaging conversations took place among the other housemates about Indian eating habits, and Shetty's cooking was criticised for giving O'Meara diarrhoea. After Shetty attempted to dispose of left-over chicken soup down the toilet and caused a blockage, Jack Tweed suggested that she should pick the bones out with her teeth and allegedly referred to her as a "fucking Paki", although show producers denied this and stated that the word used was "cunt". During a fierce argument, Goody told Shetty that she needed to "spend a day in the slums", although the media falsely reported this as "go back to the slums". Claiming that she did not know Shilpa's surname, Jade referred to her as "Shilpa Fuckawallah", "Shilpa Durupa", and "Shilpa Poppadom", later claiming that they were non-racist references to Indian food. Lloyd had opined that Shetty's English-speaking skills were lacking and verbally indicated her desire that Shetty would "fuck off home". Shetty had been reduced to tears on several occasions, confiding to fellow housemate Ian Watkins: "I feel like I'm losing my dignity."

Shetty speculated that she might be a victim of racism, but later retracted it by claiming: "People say things in anger." A record 40,000 complaints were received jointly by OFCOM and Channel 4 about the treatment of Shetty, 30 of which were formally investigated by Hertfordshire police. Carphone Warehouse suspended its sponsorship of the show and Louise Burfitt-Dons, the founder of the Act Against Bullying charity, branded Jade Goody's behaviour as "unforgivable". The controversy reached the British Parliament as an early day motion in the House of Commons was tabled. The row then escalated into an international diplomatic incident after a formal complaint from Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma lodged with then British PM Tony Blair that threatened to sour relations and damage trade between the two countries. In the city of Patna in Bihar, India, angry protestors marched in the streets and burned effigies in protest of the show, terming it 'Bigot Brother'.

During a parliamentary Prime Minister's Question Time session Blair responded that "We should oppose racism in all its forms." Gordon Brown, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was in India on a goodwill visit, condemned the controversy as "offensive" and the opposite of what Britain stood for: "I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything that detracts from that I condemn." In an official statement, Channel 4 denied that overt racial abuse or behaviour had been directed at Shetty, but acknowledged that a "cultural and class clash" was responsible for the disputes. After a thorough investigation, OFCOM made an unprecedented move and issued a ruling that Channel 4 were guilty of broadcasting potentially racist material, and required them to make multiple apologies on air during the next ''Big Brother'' season.

Richard Gere kissing incident

On 15 April 2007, Richard Gere kissed Shetty on the cheek several times in jest during an AIDS-awareness event. The pair were appearing at a press conference in New Delhi as part of a campaign to preach safe sex to truck drivers in India and promote AIDS awareness. The kiss, considered an attack on India's cultural and moral values, prompted protesters – alleged members of the extremist Hindu group Shiv Sena – to beat burning effigies of Gere with sticks. Others set fire to glamour shots of Shetty. People demanded an apology from her and threatened to ban her movies in the state. Shiv Sena leaders denied involvement in the protests, but Shiv Sena member of parliament Sanjay Raut observed that the protests are "just a manifestation of the anger of the general public" and that there was "nothing wrong with expressing contempt at such an act".

Similar protests broke out in other cities, including Varanasi, Hinduism's holiest city, and the northern town of Meerut, where crowds of hundreds of thousands chanted "Down with Shilpa Shetty!" The STAR News office was also attacked. The protests did not take any violent turn and the situation was quickly brought under control, with some activists being detained.

Shetty responded to these protests by saying, "I understand this (kissing) is his (Gere's) culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such a manner. I understand people's sentiments, but I do not want a foreigner to take bad memories from here."

On 26 April 2007, an Indian court in Rajasthan issued a warrant for Shetty and Gere's arrest.

The legal action against both Shetty and Gere has been suspended by the Indian Supreme Court until the court decides on the case's proper jurisdiction. Gere has since expressed regret for causing any offence and Shetty has said, "so much has been blown out of proportion".

Awards and honours

;Winner

1998: Bollywood Movie Award - Best Supporting Actress for ''Pardesi Babu''

2004: Giant International Award for ''Phir Milenge''. 2005: AAHOA Award for ''Phir Milenge''. 2005: Indian "Diva of the Year" by SaharaOne Television viewers.

2007: IIFA Special Award for Global Impact.

2007: Silver Star Award for her outstanding contribution to humanitarian causes. 2007: Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award. 2008: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Female for ''Life in a... Metro''. 2009: Shetty was among the 10 recipients of the IIFA-FICCI Frames Awards for the "Most Powerful Entertainers of the Decade".

;Nominated

1994: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for ''Baazigar''

2001: IIFA Best Actress Award for ''Dhadkan''

2003: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for ''Rishtey''

2003: Star Screen Award Best Comedian for ''Rishtey''

2005: Star Screen Award Best Actress for ''Phir Milenge''

2005: Filmfare Best Actress Award for ''Phir Milenge''

2005: Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female for ''Phir Milenge''

2005: IIFA Best Actress Award for ''Phir Milenge''

2005: Bollywood Movie Award - Best Actress for ''Phir Milenge''

Filmography

Seema Chopra ''Aao Pyaar Karen'' Mona/Basanti Bijli ''Gambler'' Neha ''Mr. Romeo'' Seema Nisha Sona ''Dus (1997 film) Neha Divya Roma Khurana Prathna Thakur Nandhana ''Pardesi Babu'' Komal ''Jaanwar (1999 film) Special appearance Lawyer's daughter ''Azad (film) Anjali Preeti Sharma Macarena Tara ''Indian (2001 film) Shilpa Preeti Chandana(Chandu) ''Karz'' Vaijanti Gauri Shivalkar Kaajal Radha/Banto Betty ''Ondagona Baa'' Gayathri ''Phir Milenge'' Jannat ''Dus'' Neha Sonia Money Lender ''Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar'' ''Life In A... Metro'' Simran Herself ''Dostana (2008 film) ''The Desire''

Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes
1993	''Baazigar''	|	Hindi	Nominated, Filmfare Best Debut Award
rowspan=3	1994	|	Chhaya	Hindi
''Main Khiladi Tu Anari''	|	Hindi
''Aag (1994 film)	Aag''	|	Hindi
rowspan=2	1995	|	Ritu	Hindi
''Hathkadi	|	Hindi
rowspan=4	1996	|	Shilpa	Tamil language>Tamil	Dubbed into Hindi and Telugu as ''Mr. Romeo''
''Chhote Sarkar (1996 film)	Chhote Sarkar''	|	Hindi
''Himmat''	|	Hindi
''Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya''	|	Telugu language>Telugu	Dubbed into Hindi as ''Saagar Kanya''
rowspan=6	1997	Dus''||	Journalist	Hindi	Incomplete role
''Prithvi''	|	Hindi
''Insaaf''	|	Hindi
''Zameer: The Awakening of a Soul''	|	Hindi
''Auzaar''	|	Hindi
''Veedeva Dandi Babu''	|	Telugu
rowspan=2	1998	|	Chinni Malhotra	Hindi
''Aakrosh (1998 film)	Aakrosh''	|	Hindi
rowspan=3	1999	Jaanwar'' ||	Mamta	Hindi
''Shool''	|	Hindi	Item number
''Lal Baadshah''	|	Hindi
rowspan=5	2000	Azad'' ||	Kanaka Mahalakshmi	Telugu
''Dhadkan''	|	Hindi
''Tarkieb''	|	Hindi
''Kushi (2000 film)	Kushi''	|	Tamil	Item number
''Jung''	|	Hindi
rowspan=4	2001	Indian'' ||	Anjali Rajshekar Azad	Hindi
''Bhalevadivi Basu''	|	Telugu	Dubbed into Hindi as ''Sherni Ka Shikaar''
''Maduve Agona Baa''	|	Kannada
''Preethsod Thappa''	|	Kannada
rowspan=6	2002	|	Sapna	Hindi
''Rishtey''	|	Hindi	Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
''Hathyar''	|	Hindi
''Chor Machaaye Shor''	|	Hindi
''Badhaai Ho Badhaai''	|	Hindi
''Junoon (2002 film)	Junoon''	|	Hindi
rowspan=2	2003	|	Belli	Kannada
''Darna Mana Hai''	|	Hindi
rowspan=2	2004	|	Tamanna Sahani	Hindi	Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
''Garv: Pride and Honour''	|	Hindi
rowspan=4	2005	|	Aditi	Hindi
''Fareb''	|	Hindi
''Khamosh: Khauff Ki Raat''	|	Hindi
''Auto Shankar (film)	Auto Shankar''	|	Kannada
2006	|	Ahana	Hindi
rowspan=3	2007	|	Shikha	Hindi
''Apne''	|	Hindi
''Om Shanti Om''	|	Hindi	Special Appearance In Song 'Deewangi Deewangi'
2008	Dostana'' ||		Hindi	Special Appearance In Song 'Shut Up & Bounce'
2010	|	Gautami	Hindi, English, Chinese	Filming'

See also

List of Indian film actresses

References

External links

Profile Page at BBC News

Category:Article Feedback Pilot Category:1975 births Category:AIDS activists Category:Indian Hindus Category:Indian activists Category:Indian film actors Category:Kannada film actors Category:Living people Category:Indian actors Category:Reality show winners Category:Participants in British reality television series Category:Indian women activists Category:Indian television personalities Category:Big Brother UK contestants Category:People from Mumbai Category:Hindi film actors Category:Indian female models Category:Indian television presenters Category:Indian Premier League Category:Indian Premier League franchise owners Category:Bigg Boss Category:Mangaloreans Category:Tulu people Category:People from Mangalore Category:Indian expatriates in the United Kingdom

bs:Shilpa Shetty cy:Shilpa Shetty es:Shilpa Shetty fr:Shilpa Shetty it:Shilpa Shetty he:שילפה שטי jv:Shilpa Shetty kn:ಶಿಲ್ಪಾ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ka:შილპა შეტი ml:ശിൽപ്പ ഷെട്ടി mr:शिल्पा शेट्टी nl:Shilpa Shetty pl:Shilpa Shetty pt:Shilpa Shetty ru:Шилпа Шетти sco:Shilpa Shetty simple:Shilpa Shetty fi:Shilpa Shetty sv:Shilpa Shetty ta:ஷில்பா ஷெட்டி th:ศิลปา เศฏฏี tg:Шилпа Шеттӣ wuu:西跋榭滴 zh:細芭榭滴

Name	Shama Sikander
Alt	Shama Sikander at Panache Club Launch
Height
Eyecolor	Black
Haircolor	Black
Birth date	August 04, 1981
Yearsactive	1998-Present
Occupation	Actress
Religion	Islam
Ethnicity	South Asian }}

Shama Sikander is an Indian Film/TV actress. She is known mainly for playing the role of Pooja Mehta in the popular Sony TV drama ''Ye Meri Life Hai''.

Career

In 1991, she came to Mumbai to try her luck in Bollywood. Shama received fame as Pooja Mehta in the hit television serial Ye Meri Life Hai.

Personal life

Shama Sikander was born on August 4, 1981 in Makrana, Rajasthan. Her birth name is Shama Gesawat. Her father is Sikander Ali Gesawat, and mother is Gulshan Sikander Ali Gesawat. Shama has two brothers, Rizwan and Khalid, and one sister named Salma. She stands at 5' 6" (1.68 m). She is known by the nickname Shams among her friends. She currently resides in Oakland Park, which is situated in Oshiwara, a neighborhood in the suburb of Andheri in Mumbai.

External links

References

Category:Indian television actors Category:Indian film actors Category:Indian Muslims Category:Living people Category:1981 births

name	Kiran Rathod
birth date	January 11, 1981
birth place	Jaipur, India
occupation	Actress
yearsactive	2001-present
website	}}

Kiran Rathod () is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films.

Early life

Rathod was born on 11 January 1981 in Azamgarh, Rajasthan into a Rajput family. She is a graduate of Mithibai College in Mumbai. She is the cousin of Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon.

Career

She first started appearing in Hindi pop song albums in late 1990s which caught the attention of Hindi movie producers. She made her first film appearance as Monishka - Hrithik Roshan's spoilt and wealthy fiancée in the film ''Yaadein''. The film was a major box office flop. After a few sporadic appearances in minor films, she moved down south where she appeared in a number of successful films including ''Gemini'' with Vikram, ''Anbe Sivam'' with Kamal Hassan, ''Villain'' with Ajith Kumar, ''Winner'' with Prashanth, and ''Diwan'' with Sarath Kumar. Her appearance in films like ''Villain'', ''Winner'', ''Diwan'' and ''New'' were well received by the South Indian audiences.

In 2010, she acted in an Indian version of ''Malèna'', ''High School''.

Filmography

Monishka Rai ''Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu'' Manisha Lavanya Rashmi Meenkashi ''Anbe Sivam'' Geetha Anjali Neelaveni Divya ''New (film) Naveena ''Saawan... The Love Season'' Sapna Singh Renuka Rani Manasi ''Kshana Kshana'' ''Maayakazhcha'' ''Naalai Namadhe'' ''Jaggubhai'' ''Agarathi'' Lissy

Year !! Movie !! Role !! Language !! Notes
rowspan="2"	2001	''Yaadein''	|	Hindi
''Shubhakaryam''	|	Telugu language>Telugu
rowspan="6"	2002	|		Telugu
''Sreeram (film)	Sreeram''	|	Telugu
''Gemini (2002 film)	Gemini''	|	Tamil language>Tamil
''Villain (2002 film)	Villain''	|	Tamil
''Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani''	|	Hindi
''Thandavam''	|	malayalam
rowspan="6"	2003	|	Bala Kandhasamy	Tamil
''Diwan (film)	Diwan''	|	Tamil
''Parasuram''	|	Tamil
''Winner (film)	Winner''	|	Tamil
''Thennavan''	|	Tamil
''Thirumalai''	|	Tamil	Special appearance
rowspan="4"	2004	New'' ||	Sivakami	Tamil
''Naani''	|	Telugu
''Andaru Dongale Dorikithe''	|	Telugu
''Chinna (film)	Chinna''	|	Tamil	Special appearance
rowspan="5"	2006	|		Hindi
''Souten: The Other Woman''	|	Hindi
''Thimiru''	|	Tamil	Special appearance
''Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw''	|	Telugu
''Idhu Kadhal Varum Paruvam''	|	Tamil
2007	|	Maya	Kannada
rowspan="2"	2008	|	Aswathy	Malayalam
''Vasool''	|	Tamil
2009	|		Tamil
rowspan="5"	2010	|		Tamil
''High School''	|	Telugu
''Valibame Vaa	|	Tamil
''Guru Sishyan (2010 film)	Guru Sishyan''	|	Tamil
''Vaadaa''	|	Tamil
rowspan="2"	2011	|		Tamil	Filming
	''Manushya Mirugam''	|	Malayalam	Filming

References

External links

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Indian film actors Category:Tamil film actors Category:Hindi film actors Category:People from Jaipur