Rakshit Shetty


Rakshit Shetty is an Indian actor and filmmaker who is best known for his work in Kannada cinema. His films are known for urban legends, Indian folklore, nonlinear storylines, extended scenes of dialogue, references to Indian mythology and a wide variety of other films.
Shetty began his career as a Short Filmmaker with films like Let's Kill Gandhi and many unreleased ventures. Most of the Short films were lost during his career as an actor. He then entered into feature films with Nam Areal Ondh Dina and Thuglak both directed by Arvind Kaushik. His first mainstream success was 2013 Simple Agi Ondh Love Story.
The success of Simple Agi Ondh Love Story made director and producer Simple Suni to invest in Shetty's first directorial Ulidavaru Kandanthe. The movie was a moderate hit at the box office but later gained cult-following. The movie was praised for its regional authenticity in depicting Udupi and its people. The movie also paid homage to many of Tarantino's films including Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, also referring to classics like Scarface and Sholay.
After a gap of 2 years from writing he came back with 2016 college comedy film Kirik Party which created sensation at the box office. Portrayal of Indian colleges in a very subtle and humorous way attained critical acclaim. The soundtrack of the film crossed millions of views in YouTube. He also received a lot of accolades including Karnataka State Film Award.

Early life

Shetty was born on 6 June 1983 in Udupi in a Tulu-speaking Bunt Tuluva Hindu family. He completed his schooling at his hometown. During his schooling days he was an avid Huli Kunitha dancer, a folk dance in the Coastal Karnataka. This made him provide a major role for the dancers in his 2014 film Ulidavaru Kandanthe. Then studied engineering at N.M.A.M. Institute of Technology, Manglore. After graduating, he worked as a software professional for two years before becoming an actor starting in theatre.

Career

Shetty made his acting debut in films in 2010 with Nam Areal Ondina, which didn't garner much popularity or success to him. Later, the romance-comedy 2013 film Simple Agi Ondh Love Story, proved to be a breakthrough for him before he directed and starred in the crime-drama Ulidavaru Kandanthe in 2014. The film garnered widespread critical acclaim and won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Director's First Time Best Film and the Filmfare Award South for Best Director. The film holds cult status among Kannada audiences. He followed it by starring in Vaastu Prakaara and the critical success Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu. Shetty achieved further success with the 2016 college drama Kirik Party that he wrote and produced, a critical and commercial success.
Along with directors Pawan Kumar, Anup Bhandari and others, Rakshit Shetty has been credited by the media and in the Kannada cinema circles as having begun a "new wave of filmmaking". Through his career, he has established himself in the Kannada film industry.

Personal life

Shetty began dating her costar Rashmika Mandanna during making of Kirik Party, and the couple got engaged on 3 July 2017 in a private ceremony in her hometown of Virajpet. The couple mutually broke off their engagement in September 2018, citing compatibility issues.

Filmography

As actor
YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2010Nam Areal Ond DinaAravindAravind Khoushik
2012ThuglakThuglakAravind Khoushik
2013Simple Agi Ondh Love StoryKushalSimple Suni
2014Ulidavaru KandanteRichard AntonyHimself
2014Vaastu PrakaraKuberaYogaraj Bhat
2016RickyRickyRishab Shetty
2016Godhi Banna Sadharana MykattuShivaHemanth Rao
2016Kirik PartyKarnaRishab Shetty
2019Avane SrimannarayanaNarayanaSachin Ravi
2020777 charlieDharmaKiran Raj.KFilming
2020Sapta Sagaradaache YelloHemanth RaoFilming

As producer
YearTitleDirectorProducerWriterNotes
2016Kirik Party
2018Humble Politician Nograj
2018Katheyondu Shuruvagide
2019Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja
2020777 charlieFilming
TBAPunyakotiPre-Production
TBARichie

Cameo appearances
YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2014BhauparakRichieSuni
2015JaathreHimselfRaviteja Mudigere
2016JigarthandaHimselfShiva Ganesh
2019Padde HuliKarnaGuru Deshpande

Awards and nominations

YearFilmAwardCategoryResultRef.
2015Ulidavaru Kandanthe62nd Filmfare Awards SouthBest Director
2015Ulidavaru Kandanthe62nd Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actor
2015Ulidavaru Kandanthe62nd Filmfare Awards SouthBest Lyricist
2015Ulidavaru Kandanthe2014 Karnataka State Film AwardsDirector's First Time Best Film
2015Ulidavaru KandantheBehindwoods Gold MedalBest Filmaker Kannada
2017Godhi Banna Sadharana MykattuKAFTA AwardsBest Lyrics
2017Godhi Banna Sadharana MykattuIIFA UtsavamPerformance In A Supporting Role – Male
2017Kirik PartyIIFA UtsavamBest Film
2017Kirik PartyIIFA UtsavamPerformance In A Leading Role – Male
2017Kirik PartyIIFA UtsavamBest Lyrics
2017Kirik PartyIIFA UtsavamBest Story
2017Kirik Party2016 Karnataka State Film AwardsBest Family Entertainer
2017Kirik Party64th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actor
2017Kirik Party64th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Lyricist
2017Kirik Party64th Filmfare Awards SouthCritics Award for Best Actor – South
2017Kirik Party6th SIIMA AwardsBest Film
2017Kirik Party6th SIIMA AwardsBest Actor
2017Kirik Party6th SIIMA AwardsEntertainer of the Year