JOIN US“I wanted to be an actor even as a child,” says Neethu Shetty, who has worked in over 20 movies in her career spanning nearly a decade. This conversation was as breezy as a chat between friends which really reflects her simplicity that makes her very endearing.
Her first break was on television back in 2004 when she was part of Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar’s serial Punya. Several offers came her way after the tele stint and soon she moved on to films. She has been part of many films including Yahoo, Jennifer, Joke Falls, Gaalipata, Ganesha Matte Banda, Manasaare, Krishna Nee Late Aagi Baaro and Yogaraj But, among many others. Her role as Deyi Baidhyethi in the Tulu film Koti Chennaya won her the prestigious State Award for the best supporting actress.
Choice of roles
Ask her about her choice of films and Neethu gives a straightforward answer. “For me, what matters most is my role and the passion with which the director can actually execute it. I cannot expect author-backed roles all the time, but I am only open to roles that are important and take the script forward. I recently did a small role in Abhinetri for Pooja Gandhi after she asked me to because I was clear it was a guest appearance.”
Neethu also a participated in the popular reality show Bigg Boss Kannada 2 and says that she took it up because she wanted to do something different. “It was a great experience and a huge challenge for me as I was not in touch with my family and had to live with other contestants in an isolated environment. However, I went in there for my own reasons. Even as a child I had disliked the ranking system as I believed that everyone has their own capability and capacity.”
To the small screen
Of late, Neethu admits that she has been doing a lot of cameos and says that after doing three item songs she probably will not do one again.
“Unless it’s really something different and unique, I am done with doing item songs.” Again, she is honest when she is asked about how she reacts when her films do not do well. “I have a reputation of being a good actress and even when the film does not do well. I have never really been criticised as my performances have always been appreciated. I always believe in concentrating on doing good work and giving my best.”
Currently, she has been offered to host a television talk show and is mulling on the same. So, is she not afraid of overexposure? “Television reaches a wider audience and that makes it attractive. Moreover, it’s not like I am doing movies all the time, so overexposure is not something that worries me.”
Having worked predominantly in Sandalwood, the actress is considering doing movies in other languages, too.
“I think with the number of cameos I have been doing, I have become a guest in Kannada cinema and should probably work in other industries. However, I am not really the overambitious sort.”
She is looking forward to the release of her much-delayed film Paaru I Love You as well as Ice Spice. “In Ice Spice, I play one of the protagonists alongside Rangayana Raghu even though I am not paired opposite him.”
Apart from films, the actress loves to travel and also reads in her free time and confesses she is in a “happy space.”