Krithi Shetty Biography: Age, Family, Movies and Latest News
Krithi Shetty is an Indian actress who works mainly in Telugu cinema, with films in Malayalam and Tamil. She was born on 21 September 2003 in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and became an overnight sensation with her debut Uppena (2021), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. In 2026 she released two Tamil films, Vaa Vaathiyaar with Karthi and LIK: Love Insurance Kompany with Pradeep Ranganathan, and she is reportedly set to star in an Anil Ravipudi film.
This page covers Krithi Shetty’s age, family, education, full filmography, career ups and downs, and her latest news through October 2026.
Krithi Shetty Quick Facts
| Full name | Krithi Shetty |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 September 2003 |
| Age (Oct 2026) | 23 years |
| Birthplace | Mangaluru, Karnataka |
| Raised in | Mumbai |
| Mother tongue | Tulu |
| Mother | Neethi Shetty (fashion designer) |
| Father | Krishna Shetty (businessman) |
| Debut (lead) | Uppena (Telugu, 2021) |
| Malayalam debut | ARM – Ajayante Randam Moshanam (2024) |
| Tamil releases | Vaa Vaathiyaar (Jan 2026), LIK (Apr 2026) |
| Award | Filmfare Best Female Debut – South (Uppena) |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
Krithi Shetty Latest News (October 2026)
- Two Tamil releases in 2026. Vaa Vaathiyaar, directed by Nalan Kumarasamy and co-starring Karthi, finally reached theatres in January 2026 after its release was held up by a Madras High Court order over producer dues. In April 2026 she followed it with LIK: Love Insurance Kompany, directed by Vignesh Shivan and starring Pradeep Ranganathan, which had faced several date changes.
- Anil Ravipudi project. In March 2026, reports said she was locked as the female lead opposite Nandamuri Kalyan Ram in a film Anil Ravipudi is planning with Venkatesh Daggubati. Telugu media framed it as a chance to end a run of underperforming films.
- Seeking a big Telugu hit. Industry coverage notes that she has not had a solid solo Telugu hit since Bangarraju (2022), even though her Malayalam film ARM (2024) did well.
- Missed role. She was reportedly considered to play Chiranjeevi’s daughter in a film by director Bobby Kolli, but the role did not work out.
Early Life, Family and Education
Krithi was born in Mangaluru into a Tulu-speaking family and grew up in Mumbai. Her mother Neethi Shetty is a fashion designer and her father Krishna Shetty runs a business. Krithi studied in Mumbai and was pursuing a degree in psychology when films took off, and she has said she wants to complete her education alongside acting.
As a child she appeared in television commercials, and she had a small role in the Hindi film Super 30 (2019), starring Hrithik Roshan, before her lead debut.
Uppena: A Dream Debut (2021)
Director Buchi Babu Sana cast the 17-year-old Krithi as Bebamma opposite debutant Panja Vaisshnav Tej in Uppena. Released in February 2021, the romantic drama became one of the biggest debut-film successes in Telugu cinema history, and its song “Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram” was a massive hit. Krithi’s expressive performance earned her the Filmfare and SIIMA awards for Best Female Debut, and she was instantly in demand.
Career Journey
The Hit Streak (2021–2022)
Within a year of Uppena, Krithi delivered Shyam Singha Roy (December 2021) with Nani and the Sankranti film Bangarraju (January 2022) with Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya. Fans nicknamed her the industry’s “lucky charm”.
The Slump (2022–2024)
Her next run was difficult. The Warriorr (2022) with Ram Pothineni, Macherla Niyojakavargam (2022) with Nithiin, Aa Ammayi Gurinchi Meeku Cheppali (2022) with Sudheer Babu, Custody (2023) with Naga Chaitanya and Manamey (2024) with Sharwanand all underperformed at the box office, prompting media talk of a “flop phase”.
Expanding to Malayalam and Tamil (2024–2026)
Krithi made her Malayalam debut in ARM – Ajayante Randam Moshanam (2024), a period fantasy starring Tovino Thomas in a triple role. The film was a commercial success and showed her potential beyond Telugu. She then turned to Tamil cinema with Vaa Vaathiyaar and LIK in 2026.
Krithi Shetty Movies List
| Year | Film | Language | Co-star |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Super 30 (small role) | Hindi | Hrithik Roshan |
| 2021 | Uppena | Telugu | Panja Vaisshnav Tej |
| 2021 | Shyam Singha Roy | Telugu | Nani |
| 2022 | Bangarraju | Telugu | Naga Chaitanya |
| 2022 | The Warriorr | Telugu / Tamil | Ram Pothineni |
| 2022 | Macherla Niyojakavargam | Telugu | Nithiin |
| 2022 | Aa Ammayi Gurinchi Meeku Cheppali | Telugu | Sudheer Babu |
| 2023 | Custody | Telugu / Tamil | Naga Chaitanya |
| 2024 | Manamey | Telugu | Sharwanand |
| 2024 | ARM – Ajayante Randam Moshanam | Malayalam | Tovino Thomas |
| 2026 | Vaa Vaathiyaar | Tamil | Karthi |
| 2026 | LIK: Love Insurance Kompany | Tamil | Pradeep Ranganathan |
Krithi Shetty’s 2026 Tamil Films in Detail
Vaa Vaathiyaar (January 2026)
Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, known for the cult comedy Soodhu Kavvum, Vaa Vaathiyaar pairs Krithi with Karthi in an action comedy. The film was ready for a while but was delayed after the Madras High Court stayed its release until the producers cleared pending dues of about ₹21.7 crore. When it finally opened in January 2026, it had a modest run at the box office.
LIK: Love Insurance Kompany (April 2026)
Vignesh Shivan’s futuristic romantic comedy stars Pradeep Ranganathan, fresh from the success of Love Today and Dragon. Krithi plays the female lead, and S. J. Suryah appears in a key role. After several date shifts, the film released in April 2026 and performed better than Vaa Vaathiyaar, giving Krithi a foothold with younger Tamil audiences.
The Uppena Effect
Uppena did more than launch Krithi. It proved that a debut pair with a strong love story and chartbuster music could open big in Telugu cinema, encouraging producers to back fresh faces. Director Buchi Babu Sana went on to direct Ram Charan, and Krithi became the reference point for “debut heroine success” in Tollywood conversations. Five years later, many fans still call her “Bebamma”, the name of her Uppena character, which shows how lasting that first impression was.
Why Krithi Shetty’s Career Is Worth Watching
Krithi’s story shows both the rewards and pressures of an early start. She became a star before turning 18, which brought huge attention but also intense scrutiny of every release. Her best performances — Bebamma in Uppena, Keerthi in Shyam Singha Roy, and her role in ARM — share an emotional sincerity that critics have praised. What she has lacked is a consistent run of strong scripts.
At just 23, she already has films in four languages and work with stars like Nani, Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya, Ram Pothineni, Tovino Thomas and Karthi. If the Anil Ravipudi film materialises, it could give her the broad family-entertainer hit that Telugu audiences have been waiting for.
Personal Life and Interests
Krithi is unmarried and keeps her personal life private. She is close to her mother, who often accompanies her to shoots and events. She frequently posts about self-care, positivity and her work on Instagram, where she has a large following. She has said she handles online criticism by focusing on learning from each film, and she credits her family for keeping her grounded despite becoming famous so young.
Lesser-Known Facts
- She was only 17 when Uppena released.
- Her mother tongue is Tulu, but she learned Telugu for her roles and now speaks it fluently.
- She appeared in advertisements before getting her first film.
- She has shared the screen with both Nagarjuna and his son Naga Chaitanya in Bangarraju, a rare combination for a heroine still in her early twenties.
- Her films have released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi before she turned 23.
- Uppena‘s song “Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram” crossed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.
Key Takeaways
- Krithi Shetty, born 21 September 2003 in Mangaluru, is 23 years old as of October 2026.
- Her debut Uppena (2021) won her the Filmfare Best Female Debut – South award.
- Shyam Singha Roy and Bangarraju were hits; several later Telugu films underperformed.
- She made her Malayalam debut with ARM (2024) and released two Tamil films in 2026.
- She is reportedly the lead in an upcoming Anil Ravipudi film.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Krithi Shetty?
Krithi Shetty was born on 21 September 2003, so she is 23 years old as of October 2026.
What was Krithi Shetty’s first movie?
Her first film as a lead was the Telugu romantic drama Uppena (2021). Before that she had a small role in Super 30 (2019).
Where is Krithi Shetty from?
She was born in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and grew up in Mumbai.
What is Krithi Shetty’s character name in Uppena?
She played Bebamma, the daughter of a powerful village landlord, in Uppena.
What are Krithi Shetty’s new movies?
Her 2026 releases are Vaa Vaathiyaar (January) with Karthi and LIK: Love Insurance Kompany (April) with Pradeep Ranganathan. She is reportedly set for an Anil Ravipudi film next.
Is Krithi Shetty married?
No. Krithi Shetty is not married.
Did Krithi Shetty act in Malayalam?
Yes. She made her Malayalam debut in ARM – Ajayante Randam Moshanam (2024) with Tovino Thomas.
Related Biographies
- Naga Chaitanya Biography (Bangarraju, Custody co-star)
- Nagarjuna Biography (Bangarraju co-star)
- Sreeleela Biography
- Telugu Actresses and Their Ages