Anushka Shetty Biography: Age, Family, Movies, Marriage and Latest News
Anushka Shetty is an Indian actress who works mainly in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She was born Sweety Shetty on 7 November 1981 in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and was a yoga instructor before films. She became a pan-India name as Devasena in Baahubali and is known for heroine-led hits like Arundhati and Bhaagamathie. Her most recent release was Ghaati (2025), and her next film, the Malayalam fantasy epic Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer, marks her Malayalam debut.
This page brings together everything readers search for about Anushka Shetty — her age, family, education, filmography, the Prabhas rumours, her weight-gain story for Size Zero, and her latest 2026 news.
Anushka Shetty Quick Facts
| Real name | Sweety Shetty |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Sweety |
| Date of birth | 7 November 1981 |
| Age (Oct 2026) | 44 years (turns 45 on 7 November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Mangaluru, Karnataka |
| Raised in | Bengaluru |
| Education | Bachelor of Computer Applications, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru |
| Before films | Yoga instructor |
| Debut film | Super (Telugu, 2005) |
| Famous role | Devasena in Baahubali (2015, 2017) |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Latest release | Ghaati (5 September 2025) |
| Next film | Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer (Malayalam debut) |
Anushka Shetty Latest News (October 2026)
- Kathanar trailer out. The trailer of Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer was launched on 31 March 2026. Anushka plays Kaliyankaattu Neeli, a figure from Kerala folklore, opposite Jayasurya as the legendary priest Kadamattathu Kathanar. Directed by Rojin Thomas and produced by Gokulam Gopalan, the film is in the final stage of post-production and is planned for release in around 15 languages. As of September 2026, the makers had not announced a release date.
- Ghaati on OTT. Krish’s action drama Ghaati, in which she played a cannabis-belt worker turned rebel opposite Vikram Prabhu, released on 5 September 2025 after several postponements. It had a weak theatrical run and later premiered on streaming.
- Social media break. After Ghaati, Anushka stepped away from social media for a while, a move widely reported in Telugu media.
- Reunion reports. Reports in 2026 suggested she could reunite with Nagarjuna for his milestone 100th film, and that Sreeleela was in talks for a Hindi remake of Arundhati. Neither has been officially confirmed.
Early Life, Family and Education
Anushka was born into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family in Mangaluru. Her parents are A. N. Vittal Shetty and Prafulla Shetty, and she has two elder brothers, Gunaranjan Shetty and Sai Ramesh Shetty. She grew up in Bengaluru, where she studied at Mount Carmel College and earned a Bachelor of Computer Applications degree.
Before acting, she trained under yoga guru Bharath Thakur and worked as a yoga instructor. That background still shapes her public image: she is often cited as one of the fittest actresses in South India, and yoga helped her recover after her dramatic weight gain for Size Zero.
How Anushka Shetty Entered Films
Director Puri Jagannadh spotted her and cast her opposite Nagarjuna in Super (2005). Since “Sweety” did not suit the screen, she adopted the name Anushka. Within a year she had a major hit with S. S. Rajamouli’s Vikramarkudu (2006), beginning a long association with Rajamouli that would later lead to Baahubali.
Career Highlights
Arundhati: The Turning Point (2009)
Kodi Ramakrishna’s fantasy horror Arundhati made Anushka the first Telugu actress in years to deliver a blockbuster without a big male star. Her role as Jejamma, a queen battling a vengeful spirit, won her a Nandi Special Jury Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. The film still trends whenever a remake is discussed.
Vedam and Tamil Stardom (2010–2014)
In Krish’s anthology Vedam (2010) she played Saroja, a sex worker, a bold choice that earned critical praise. In Tamil cinema she became a top heroine with Singam (2010) opposite Suriya and its sequels, and Deiva Thirumagal (2011) with Vikram.
Rudhramadevi and Size Zero (2015)
2015 was her most demanding year. She played the Kakatiya queen in Gunasekhar’s historical Rudhramadevi, and gained roughly 20 kg for Size Zero, a film about body image. Losing that weight later proved difficult, and online trolling about her appearance has followed her ever since, something she has addressed with grace.
Baahubali: Devasena (2015–2017)
Rajamouli cast her as Devasena, the Kuntala princess who becomes Amarendra Baahubali’s wife. She appears briefly as an older captive in Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and as the fierce young princess in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever. The role made her recognisable across India.
Bhaagamathie and the Comeback (2018–2025)
Bhaagamathie (2018) was another solo-lead hit. After the OTT thriller Nishabdham (2020), she took a long break and returned with the romantic comedy Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023) opposite Naveen Polishetty, which did well. Ghaati (2025) followed, but did not perform at the box office.
Anushka Shetty Movies List
| Year | Film | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Super | Telugu | Debut with Nagarjuna |
| 2006 | Vikramarkudu | Telugu | First hit with Rajamouli |
| 2009 | Arundhati | Telugu | Career-defining blockbuster |
| 2010 | Vedam | Telugu | Critically acclaimed role |
| 2010 | Singam | Tamil | Hit franchise with Suriya |
| 2013 | Mirchi | Telugu | Hit with Prabhas |
| 2015 | Rudhramadevi | Telugu | Historical title role |
| 2015 | Size Zero | Telugu / Tamil | Gained about 20 kg |
| 2017 | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Telugu | Devasena |
| 2018 | Bhaagamathie | Telugu | Solo-lead hit |
| 2020 | Nishabdham | Telugu | Direct OTT release |
| 2023 | Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty | Telugu | Comeback hit |
| 2025 | Ghaati | Telugu | With Vikram Prabhu |
| TBA | Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer | Malayalam | Malayalam debut |
Why Anushka Shetty’s Heroine-Led Films Work
Few South Indian actresses have opened films on their own name as consistently as Anushka. Arundhati, Rudhramadevi and Bhaagamathie all sold tickets because audiences trusted her to carry a story, not because of a male co-star. Three things stand out in these roles.
- Physical presence: her height and yoga-trained posture suit queens, warriors and goddess-like figures, which is why period and fantasy films keep casting her.
- Emotional range: she can switch from tenderness to fury within a scene, as seen in Devasena’s courtroom moment in Baahubali 2.
- Selective choices: since 2018 she has done roughly one film every two years, which keeps each release an event for fans.
That track record explains why a fantasy epic like Kathanar wanted her for Kaliyankaattu Neeli, and why remake talk around Arundhati keeps returning.
Career Gaps Explained
Fans often ask why Anushka appears on screen so rarely. After Size Zero, she struggled to return to her earlier weight and chose to take time away rather than rush into projects. She also prefers to commit fully to one film at a time. Between Nishabdham (2020) and Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023) she took a three-year break, and after Ghaati she again stepped back from public life. Her pattern suggests long gaps will remain part of her career.
Anushka Shetty and Prabhas: Fact vs Rumour
Anushka and Prabhas have worked together in Billa (2009), Mirchi (2013) and both Baahubali films. Their on-screen chemistry led to years of speculation that they were dating or about to marry. Both have consistently said they are close friends and nothing more. Anushka has publicly dismissed marriage rumours, calling the reports untrue. Periodic stories about her marrying a businessman or a director have also never been confirmed.
Personal Life
Anushka is unmarried and keeps her private life away from the media. She is known in the industry for her humility, punctuality and kindness to junior crew. Her family remains based in Bengaluru, and she is often seen visiting temples in Karnataka, including attending a Bhoota Kola ritual in coastal Karnataka.
Facts You May Not Know
- Her real name, Sweety, is still what close friends call her.
- She was a certified yoga instructor before becoming an actress.
- She is one of the few heroines who led a Telugu blockbuster (Arundhati) without a big male co-star.
- Kathanar will be her first Malayalam film after two decades in cinema.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anushka Shetty’s real name?
Anushka Shetty’s real name is Sweety Shetty. Director Puri Jagannadh suggested the screen name Anushka for her debut film Super.
How old is Anushka Shetty?
Anushka Shetty was born on 7 November 1981, so she is 44 years old and turns 45 on 7 November 2026.
Is Anushka Shetty married?
No. As of October 2026, Anushka Shetty is not married. She has denied repeated marriage rumours, including those linking her to Prabhas.
What is Anushka Shetty’s next movie?
Her next film is the Malayalam fantasy epic Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer with Jayasurya, directed by Rojin Thomas. The trailer released on 31 March 2026; a release date has not yet been announced.
What role did Anushka Shetty play in Baahubali?
She played Devasena, the princess of Kuntala who marries Amarendra Baahubali and is the mother of Mahendra Baahubali.
What was Anushka Shetty’s first film?
Her first film was Super (2005), directed by Puri Jagannadh, opposite Nagarjuna.
Why did Anushka Shetty gain weight?
She gained around 20 kg for the 2015 film Size Zero, in which she played an overweight woman, and found it difficult to lose the weight afterwards.
When was Ghaati released?
Ghaati, directed by Krish and co-starring Vikram Prabhu, was released in theatres on 5 September 2025.