Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty was born on June 8, 1975, to Surendra Shetty and Sunanda Shetty. Not many people are aware that Shilpa's parents were models in their time. Her mother had modelled for Forhans, Bournvita and her father for Yera glasses. So after tenth standard (grade), when Shilpa had some free time, she went up to a photographer opposite her building and asked him to take her pictures. She gave her photographs to various ad agencies and work started coming in.
At that time, Shilpa was only 15 and wanted to become a ramp model but she didn't get in because she was only 5'7" and not as skinny and tall as other models. She was heart broken when they rejected her. But Shilpa became couple of inches taller later.
Shilpa had no background in acting, but at the age of 17, she was offered the leading role in her first film Gaata Rahe Mera Dil opposite Rahul Roy. But sadly the film never got completed and was stalled. But the offer didn't stop there, the next film she was offered was Baazigar, opposite Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. Which became a super hit and Shilpa earned a Filmfare nomination for Best New Comer.
Next, Shilpa signed two films with Govinda and both flopped and things seem to get worse. But it was her one song 'Churake Dil Mera' in Main Khiladi Tu Anari opposite her ex-boyfriend Akshay Kumar, which completely gave Shilpa a new image in Bollywood. She became the hottest thing ever to happen in Bollywood and she recieved more praise for her (5'10") body than her performances. Her films flopped one after the another and at one point, she thought of quiting.

 

By that time, Shilpa had already worked in couple of films in Telugu and Tamil. Then she signed Pardesi Babu opposite Govinda and Raveena Tandon. The film flopped but Shilpa won the 'Best Supporting Actress' award at the Zee Gold Bollywood Award.