With ‘Bigg Boss 18’ just around the corner, anticipation is building as the final list of contestants is being revealed. Among the new faces entering the show this season is Shilpa Shirodkar, a name that rings a bell with many Bollywood fans from the 90s. Hosted by Salman Khan, this season of ‘Bigg Boss’ is set to kick off on October 6, and Shilpa is one of the contestants that people are excited about.
Shilpa is no stranger to the limelight. She is the younger sister of Namrata Shirodkar, Miss India 1993, and the sister-in-law of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu. Shilpa herself was crowned Miss India 1992, and her Bollywood journey began shortly after that.
Shilpa Shirodkar’s Bollywood Journey
Shilpa made her Bollywood debut in 1989 with Ramesh Sippy’s film ‘Bhrashtachar’, and she quickly made a name for herself. Her filmography boasts a range of hit films such as ‘Khuda Gawah’, ‘Mrityudand’, ‘Bewafa Sanam’, ‘Gopi Kishan’, and ‘Aankhen’. However, after working in the industry until the year 2000, Shilpa decided to step away from the limelight.
After her last film ‘Gaja Gamini’, Shilpa took a long break from acting, one that lasted for almost 24 years. Although she attempted a comeback in 2020 with the movie ‘Guns of Banaras’, the project got delayed, keeping her away from the screen.
Personal Life and Time Away from the Industry
In 2000, after leaving Bollywood, Shilpa married Apresh Ranjit, a banker. The couple lived abroad in various countries, including the Netherlands and New Zealand, before finally settling down in London. Shilpa became a mother to her daughter Anushka during this time and focused on her family life.
Interestingly, during her time away from the industry, Shilpa pursued a different career. She took up a course in hairdressing at the Winters Hairdressing Academy in Auckland and even worked as a hairdresser. Later, she also worked as a credit controller for two years.
Body Shaming in the Industry
Despite her success in the 90s, Shilpa faced a lot of criticism for her weight. In a candid interview with ETimes, Shilpa revealed that she was initially approached by Farah Khan to perform in the famous song ‘Chaiyan Chaiyan’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan. However, Farah later replaced her with Malaika Arora, citing Shilpa’s weight as the reason.
Shilpa also shared that body shaming was prevalent in the industry at that time. She said, “If I had debuted now, in 2023, I don’t know what names people would have called me because, back in the 90s, I was constantly called ‘fat’.”
Shilpa’s Comeback in ‘Bigg Boss 18’
Now, after spending years away from the spotlight, Shilpa Shirodkar is all set to make her grand comeback in Bigg Boss 18. Fans are eager to see how she will fare in the high-pressure environment of reality TV. With her rich Bollywood history and personal resilience, Shilpa promises to bring her charm and experience to the show.
As ‘Bigg Boss 18’ approaches, viewers are looking forward to seeing this 90s star shine once again.
