Rakshit Shetty is an Indian actor, film producer, writer, and filmmaker who works mostly in Kannada cinema. He is the recipient of one National Film Award, two Filmfare South Awards, two Karnataka State Film Awards and five SIIMA Awards. His breakthrough role came in the film Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014) where he played Richard Anthony aka “Richi.” He is also known for playing the lead role in the Kannada films Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2015), Kirik Party (2016), Avane Srimannarayana (2019), and 777 Charlie (2021). He runs his own production and distribution company called Paramvah Studios.
Wiki/Biography
Rakshit Shetty was born on Monday, June 6, 1983 (age 40 years; in 2023) in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Although he did not take a certified course in filmmaking, he read a lot about screenwriting, studied various filmmakers, and watched their interviews to learn the art. He passionately follows the works of directors like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Shankar Nag, and Anurag Kashyap. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication engineering from NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte, Karkala.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 10″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Family & Caste
He belongs to the Tulu-speaking Bunt family.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Shridhar Shetty, was a civil contractor. His mother’s name is Ranjini Shetty. He has an elder brother, Ranjit Shetty.
Rakshit Shetty with his parents, brother, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews
Rakshit Shetty with his mother
Wife & Children
He is not married
Fiance
On 3 July 2017, Rakshit Shetty got engaged to actress Rashmika Mandanna in a private ceremony at his hometown in Virajpet, Karnataka. The two started dating during the making of Kirik Party (2016). However, the couple broke up, calling off their engagement in September 2018. It was reported that they were having compatibility issues.
Rakshit Shetty and Rashmika Mandanna
Career
He started as an IT professional in Bengaluru before venturing into the entertainment industry.
As an Actor
Movie (Kannada)
In 2010, he made his acting debut with the romantic drama film Nam Areal Ond Dina in which he played the role of Aravind.
Nam Areal Ond Dina (2010)
In 2014, he came into limelight with the neo-noir gangster film Ulidavaru Kandanthe in which he played the role of Richard Anthony aka “Richi.” The film is also written and directed by Rakshit Shetty.
In 2015, Shetty appeared in the satirical comedy film Vaastu Prakaara where he played a con man named Kubera who sells the idea of vastu.
After that, he acted in the films Simple Agi Ondh Love Story (2013), Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016) and Kirik Party (2016), which later became huge hits.
As a Filmmaker
While talking about the beginning of his journey as a filmmaker, in an interview, he said,
I started writing and directing because I wanted to be an actor. When I entered the industry, the type of films that were produced were definitely not what I wanted to be a part of. I want to make a film that I will be proud of 20 years from now. That’s the idea I used to make the film.”
He started making short films when he was working in the IT industry, tinkering with cameras and borrowing money from friends for production. He was making a film called Confessions of a Dustbin when he was offered to act in the film Simple Agi Ondh Love Story (2013) following a short film that took a back seat. After that, he made his directorial debut with Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014), which earned him the Karnataka State Award for Best Debutant Director, the Filmfare South Award in the Best Film category, and the South Indian International Film Award in the Best Lyricist category.
Poster of Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014)
He wrote the script for Ulidavaru Kandanthe even before Confessions of a Dustbin, but he shelved it. However, when Suvin Cinemas came forward to produce the film, Shetty went ahead. He wrote and produced the western fantasy adventure comedy film Avane Srimannarayana (2019). Other Kannada films he has produced include Bheemasena Nalamaharaja (2020), Sakutumba Sametha (2022), and Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare (2022).
Facts/Trivia
- Shetty is often referred to as the “Simple Star” because of his style of filmmaking.
- In an interview, Rakshit revealed that he has some strange beliefs. He said, he likes the number six the most and considers the number multiple of three to bring him luck. Furthermore, he added,
However you add up my date of birth (June 6, 1983), the result is either three, six or nine… The pull towards this number is more psychological. I don’t ask for a special number for my car or phone, but when I’m given a choice, I choose a number that adds up to a multiple of three. I also keep the stereo volume and air conditioning temperature in my car at, say, 21 or 24 — multiples of three”
Rakshit has been practicing this habit since childhood. As a child, the actor used to count the bites it took to eat things like bread and aim to finish six or nine bites (that’s a multiple of three). Rakshit believes that this behavior stems from a desire to keep his mind active.
- Rakshit also has a ‘dream book’ and believes that whatever is written in it will eventually come true.
- In 2019, he participated in the Bunts Premier League (BPL) at the Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management ground in Adyar, Mangaluru.
- In 2021, various Sandalwood actors and native Tulu speakers such as Pruthvi Ambaar and Rakshit Shetty used social media to accelerate the need to include Tulu in the list of official languages of India. He sent out a tweet, which read,
The dances, speech and rituals of the Tulu people are part of Karnataka’s cultural pride. Let us all unite in an effort to give due respect to Tulu. Hopefully this long-standing request will be granted. Let the Tulu language be official.”
- The characters in the film Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014) were based on what he had seen as a child. Even the character he played in the film, Richie, was based on someone he knew. In an interview, he said,
I have also heard the legendary story of the underworld. It is a known fact that Upudi and Mangaluru are associated with the underworld. I combined all those narratives and experiences and created a character for Ulidavarau…”
- While talking about his favorite director Quentin Tarantino, in an interview, Shetty said,
If you watch a Tarantino movie, you can learn a lot. Like in his Pulp Fiction, there is one scene that I still remember — a character opens a briefcase and only light comes out of it. Tarantino never shows what is there and leaves the interpretation to the audience. That somehow stuck in my head.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
