Rakshit Shetty is an Indian actor, film producer, writer, and filmmaker who predominantly works in Kannada cinema. He is the recipient of one National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South, two Karnataka State Film Awards and five SIIMA Awards. His breakthrough role came in the film Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014) in which he played Richard Anthony aka “Richi.” He is also known for playing the lead roles 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 named Paramvah Studios.
Wiki/Biography
Rakshit Shetty was born on Monday, 6 June 1983 (age 40 years; as of 2023) in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Although he did not pursue a certified course in filmmaking, he read a lot about scriptwriting, studied various filmmakers, and watched their interviews to learn the art. He passionately followed the works of directors like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Shankar Nag, and Anurag Kashyap. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications engineering from N.M.A.M. Institute of Technology, Nitte, Karkala.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 10″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
He belongs to a Tulu-speaking Bunt family.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Shridhar Shetty, was a civil contractor. His mother’s name is Ranjini Shetty. He has a brother, Ranjit Shetty.
Rakshit Shetty with his parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew
Rakshit Shetty with his mother
Wife & Children
He is unmarried
Fiancée
On 3 July 2017, Rakshit Shetty got engaged to actress Rashmika Mandanna in a private ceremony in her hometown of Virajpet, Karnataka. The two started dating during the making of Kirik Party (2016). However, the couple parted ways, breaking off their engagement in September 2018. It was reported that they faced compatibility issues.
Rakshit Shetty and Rashmika Mandanna
Career
He started off as an IT professional in Bengaluru before venturing into the entertainment industry.
As an Actor
Film (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 the limelight with the neo-noir gangster film Ulidavaru Kandanthe in which she played the role of Richard Anthony aka “Richi.” The film was also written and directed by Rakshit Shetty.
In 2015, Shetty appeared in the satirical comedy film Vaastu Prakaara in which he played a con artist named Kubera who sells the idea of vastu.
Thereafter, he acted in the films Simple Agi Ondh Love Story (2013), Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016) and Kirik Party (2016), which went on to be a huge hit.
As a Filmmaker
While talking about the onset 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 came into the industry, the kind of films being churned out were definitely not what I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to make films that I would be proud of 20 years down the line. That was the idea with which I got into filmmaking.”
He started making short films when he was working in the IT industry, dabbling with the camera 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 which short films 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, Filmfare Awards South in the Best Film category, and South Indian International Movie Awards 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 kept it aside. However, when Suvin Cinemas came forward to produce the film, Shetty went ahead with it. He wrote and produced the western fantasy adventure comedy film Avane Srimannarayana (2019). Other Kannada films he produced include Bheemasena Nalamaharaja (2020), Sakutumba Sametha (2022), and Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare (2022).
Facts/Trivia
- Shetty is often referred to as the “Simple Star” due to his filmmaking style.
- In an interview, Rakshit revealed that he had some quirky beliefs. He said that he liked the number six the most and thought that numbers that are multiples of three bring him good luck. Furthermore, he added,
However you add up my date of birth (June 6, 1983), the result is either three, six or nine…The attraction towards these numbers is more psychological. I haven’t asked for special numbers for my car or phone, but when I was presented the options, I chose those that added up to a multiple of three. I even keep the stereo volume and air conditioner temperature in my car at, say, 21 or 24 — multiples of three”
Rakshit has been practising this habit since childhood. As a young boy, the actor used to count the bites it took to consume items like a bun and aimed to finish in six or nine bites (which are multiples of three). Rakshit believes that this behaviour stemmed from a desire to keep his active mind engaged.
- Rakshit also has a ‘book of dreams’ and believes that whatever he records in it will eventually come true.
- In 2019, he took part in the Bunts Premiere League (BPL) at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management ground at Adyar, Mangaluru.
- In 2021, various Sandalwood actors and native Tulu speakers like Pruthvi Ambaar and Rakshit Shetty took to social media to expedite the need to include Tulu in the list of official Indian languages. He posted a tweet, which read,
The dance, speech and rituals of the Tulu people are part of the cultural pride of Karnataka. Let us all be united in this effort to give due respect to Tulu. May this long-standing request be accepted. Let Tulu language be official.” - The characters in the film Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014) were based on the things 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 had also heard legendary underworld stories. It is a known fact that Upudi and Mangaluru are connected with the underworld. I blended all those narrations and experiences and created characters for Ulidavarau…” - While talking about his favourite director Quentin Tarantino, in an interview, Shetty said,
If you watch Tarantino’s films, you can learn a lot. Like in his Pulp Fiction , there is a scene which I still remember — a character opens a briefcase and just light comes out of it. Tarantino never shows what’s in there and leaves the interpretation to the audience. That somehow stuck in my head.”