Shwetha Menon

Indian actress, model and television anchor

Bobby Bhonsle
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2007)​
[5]
  • Sreevalsan Menon
    ​
    (m. 2011)​
    • Children1RelativesAnoop Menon (cousin)AwardsKerala State Film AwardsWebsitewww.shwetha-menon.com

    Shwetha Menon (born 23 April 1974)[1][2] is an Indian actress, model, television anchor and beauty pageant titleholder. She has won Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 1994. She has predominantly acted in Malayalam and Hindi language films, besides appearing in a number of Telugu and Tamil Language Films. She won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress. She participated in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1.[6][7]

    Starting her career as an actress in Malayalam feature films in the early 1990s, she ventured into modeling and became noted, after participating and winning at several beauty pageants, which led to her debut in Bollywood. It was the film Ishq (1997) where she received notable attention as the dancer for the song, "Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai", featuring Aamir Khan and Ajay Devgn and also in Bandhan (1998). Following appearances in over 30 Hindi films, in which she generally conveyed a glamorous image, her acting career took a turn by the mid-2000s, with her returning to Malayalam cinema and accepting substantial roles.[8] She received critical praise and several accolades including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009) and Salt N' Pepper (2011). In 2018, she contestant in the Malayalam reality TV series Bigg Boss and was eliminated after 36 episodes aired on Asianet, hosted by the veteran actor Mohanlal.She simultaneously appeared in commercial films, television reality shows and parallel films.

    Early life

    Shwetha Menon was born on 23 April 1974[1][2] in Chandigarh to Malayali parents T. V. Naranankutty and Sarada Menon who hail from Valanchery in Malappuram district in Kerala.[3] Her father served in the Indian Air Force while her mother remained a housewife. She studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, East Hill, Kozhikode.[9]

    Career

    Films

    She started her career as an actress in the Malayalam film Anaswaram (1991), directed by Jomon, playing the female lead opposite Mammootty, after which she focused on modeling.[citation needed] She competed in the Miss India contest in 1994 and finished third runner-up behind Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai and Fransesca Hart.[citation needed] She became the first Gladrags female super model in 1994 (Kelly Dorjee was the male super model) and then, Miss Asia Pacific semi-finalist in 1994 in Manila Cebu Island, Philippines.[10] She subsequently made her debut in Bollywood and appeared in over 30 films; some of her Bollywood films include Asoka (2001), Maqbool (2003) and Corporate (2006).

    Menon returned to Malayalam in 2006 with Thantra and then went on to do famous Malayalam films such as Keerthi Chakra (2006) and the award-winning Paradesi. Her performance as Sarojini, a middle-class woman who fights against extreme odds, in Madhya Venal earned her a special mention by jury chairman Bahman Ghobadi, a famous Iranian director at the International Film Festival of Kerala. In 2010, she won the Kerala State Government's Best Actress for her portrayal of Cheeru, a village woman in the film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha directed by Ranjith. She won the Mathrubhumi-Amrita TV Special Jury Award and the Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same film. In 2011, Shweta Menon starred in the remake of Rathinirvedam an Erotic Movie, playing the titular character, originally played by Jayabharathi. In the same year, she got the Kerala State Award for Salt N' Pepper. For her next movie, Naval Enna Jewel, Shweta Menon has undergone a remarkable makeover as an elderly man.[11]

    In 2010, Menon approached a local court and the Women's Commission in Kerala after the distributor of her movie tied up with Musli Power, a sex stimulant drug, to jointly promote the movie. "Met with Women's Commission regarding the Kayam ad and they offered me full backing. Thank you all and I hope justice will be done," she tweeted.[12]

    Television

    Besides working in films, she has anchored several TV, stage and film awards shows. Menon rose to popularity after presenting the musical programme, Star Wars on Kairali TV in 2008.[13] She won the Asian Television Award for Best Anchor for the same program. In Hindi, she hosted the group band based show, Razzmatazz on Zee TV with actor Arshad Warsi.[14] The next television show she did was Dancing Queen in 2008 on Colors. In 2010, she anchored the Malayalam reality show, Honeymoon Travels on Surya TV. The show became an instant hit for Shwetha's accented Malayalam and her attempts to read from the original script without a formal learning in the language. Recently, she appeared as a contestant with her father in the game show, Deal or No Deal on Surya TV. She was the anchor of the family-based reality show Veruthe Alla Bharya on Mazhavil Manorama.[15] She has participated in the popular game show Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran on Asianet. She was running popular comedy reality show Minto Goal Comedy Stars on Asianet in 2015. She has acted in many advertisements. She was a contestant in the season 1 of the reality TV show Bigg Boss aired on Asianet, from which she was eliminated after 36 episodes. In 2019 she made her TV comeback as the host for a family talent hunt show on Mazhavil Manorama titled Kusurthi Kudumbam.[16]

    Personal life

    Shwetha was married to Bollywood model, Bobby Bhonsle, but it ended up in divorce.[17] On 18 June 2011, she married Sreevalsan Menon, a native of Thrissur, who works in Mumbai. The ceremony took place at the Neythalappurath Sastha Ayappa temple, Valanchery, Kerala.[18] She has a daughter, whose delivery was recorded on camera as part of the film Kalimannu.[19]

    Controversies

    Shwetha Menon was charged with insulting the Indian flag at a fashion show on 5 January 2004. The show was organized by NIFD at a resort, where Menon walked the ramp allegedly with the tricolour wrapped around her body.[20][21]

    In 2011, she had filed a case against Kunnath Pharmaceuticals' managing director K. C. Abraham for misusing stills from her film Kayam (2011) for promoting their Ayurvedic aphrodisiac Musli Power Extra. The Ernakulam Central Police arrested Abraham.[22][23]

    Shwetha allowed her delivery to be recorded for Blessy's film Kalimannu (2013). The act was condemned for commercializing the most private affair of a woman by the Kerala Film Exhibitors.[24]

    On 4 November 2013, she filed a case against N. Peethambara Kurup of the Indian National Congress in a groping incident. Shweta later dropped her complaint against Kurup, saying the 71-year-old leader tendered a "personal apology" to her hours after she lodged the FIR against him.[25]

    Awards

    Kerala State Film Awards
    Filmfare Awards South
    South Indian International Movie Awards
    • 2012 – SIIMA Award for Actress – Special Appreciation – Rathinirvedam
    • 2013 – SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Ozhimuri
    Other Awards

    Filmography

    Films

    List of Shwetha Menon film credits
    Year Title Role Language Notes
    1991 Anaswaram Catherine Malayalam
    1992 Welcome to Kodaikanal Kavitha Malayalam
    Nakshthrakoodaram Nirmala S. Menon Malayalam
    1993 Koushalam Sashikala Malayalam
    1995 DeshaDrohulu Anu Telugu
    1997 Prithvi Lucky Hindi
    Ishq Dancer Hindi Special appearance
    1998 Bandhan Vaishali Hindi
    2000 Shikari Tania Jacobs Hindi
    Snegithiye Police Inspector, Jayashree Tamil
    Sandhitha Velai Dancer Tamil Special appearance
    2001 Asoka Nandaneshwari Hindi
    Anandam Dancer in song Telugu Special appearance
    Khatron Ke Khiladi Dancer Hindi
    Kakkakuyil Dancer Malayalam Special appearance
    Dubai Dancer Malayalam Item Dance
    2002 Kaaboo Dancer/Singer Hindi Special appearance
    Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hindi
    Vadh Hindi Cameo
    Annarth Khatun Hindi Cameo
    Ab Ke Baras Chembakam Hindi
    Anokha Bandhan Hindi
    2003 Koi Hai... Liza Hindi
    Tu Bal Bramhachari Main Hoon Kanya Kunwari Rani Hindi
    Dhund: The Fog Tanya Khurana Hindi
    Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye Sheela Hindi
    88 Antop Hill Teesta Hindi
    Kahan Ho Tum Santhali Hindi
    Maqbool Mohini Hindi
    Market Isha Hindi
    Mission Mumbai Hindi
    Juniors Telugu Cameo
    Hungama Hindi
    2004 The Killer – Ek Qatil Hindi
    Omkara Kannada Cameo
    Run Ganpat's wife Hindi
    30 Days Paro/Shalu Hindi
    Bazaar: Market of Love, Lust and Desire Hindi
    Shikaar Rama Sahay Hindi
    2005 Mera Yudh Hindi
    Bad Friend Hindi
    Vardi Hindi
    Topless Hindi
    Fresh Lime Hindi
    Dhamkee Chandni Hindi
    2006 Corporate Archana Hindi
    Sandwich Maggie Hindi
    Keerthi Chakra Aathira Malayalam
    Pakal Latha Mohankumar Malayalam
    Thanthra Swethamukhi Malayalam
    2007 Raakilipattu Jayasree Malayalam
    Nehlle Pe Dehlla dancer/singer Hindi Cameo
    Aur Phir Ek Din Hindi
    Paradesi Aamina Malayalam
    Rock & Roll Meenakshi Malayalam
    Abraham & Lincoln Lulu Malayalam
    2008 Summer 2007 D.S.P Keerti Hindi Special appearance
    Sadhu Miranda Tamil Special appearance
    Laptop Mother Malayalam
    Aakasha Gopuram Alice Malayalam
    Samayam Manikyam Malayalam
    2009 Kisse Pyaar Karoon Chameli / Julie Hindi
    Naan Avanillai 2 Nisha Tamil
    Madhya Venal Sarojini Malayalam
    Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha Cheeru Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
    Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam
    Kerala Cafe Devi Malayalam segment "Aviraamam"
    2010 Chase Kareena Chopra Hindi Cameo
    Pokkiri Raja Dancer Malayalam Special appearance
    Penpattanam Suhara Malayalam
    Sadgamaya Jyothi Malayalam
    T. D. Dasan Std. VI B Chandrika Malayalam
    Valiyangadi Lakshmi Malayalam
    Kadaksham Revathy Malayalam
    2011 Kayam Thamara Malayalam
    August 15 Dr. Farida Malayalam
    City of God Liji Punnose Malayalam
    Rathinirvedam Rathi Malayalam
    Salt N' Pepper Maya Krishnan Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
    Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam
    Rajanna Dorasanni Telugu
    2012 Unnam Sereena Malayalam
    Aravaan Rajaambaal Tamil Special appearance
    Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty Sareena Malayalam
    No. 66 Madhura Bus Rita Mammen Malayalam
    Ivan Megharoopan Maya Maheswari Malayalam
    Ithra Mathram Sumithra Malayalam
    Ozhimuri Kaliamma Malayalam
    Parudeesa Thresia Malayalam
    Aakasmikam Anitha Malayalam
    2013 Mumbai Police Dr. Tanuja Nair Malayalam
    Kalimannu Meera Malayalam
    Careebeyans Catherine Malayalam
    2014 100 Degree Celsius Nila Malayalam Also playback singer[27]
    2015 Thunai Mudhalvar Thangamani Tamil [28]
    Appavum Veenjum Dr.Nayana Malayalam
    Rudrasimhasanam Umayamma Malayalam
    Akeldamayile Pennu Agnes Malayalam [29]
    Maayamalika Manikyam Malayalam
    Haram Herself Malayalam
    2016 Dhanayathra Vijila Malayalam
    2017 Inayathalam Helen Tamil
    Naval Enna Jewel Chachu Malayalam
    2018 Kammara Sambhavam Malayil Maheshwari Malayalam
    Premanjali Subhadra Malayalam
    Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Dr. Renuka Subramanian Malayalam
    2019 Fancy Dress Priya Malayalam
    2021 Black Coffee Maya Krishnan Malayalam
    2023 Pallimani Malayalam [30]
    Queen Elizabeth Dr. Shanti Krishna Malayalam [31]
    2024 Badal Malayalam [32]

    Web series

    List of Shwetha Menon web series credits
    Year Title Role Language Notes
    2024 Nagendran's Honeymoon † TBA Malayalam Disney+ Hotstar[33]

    Television

    List of television credits
    Year Show Role Language Notes
    90's Manasi Actress Malayalam TV series
    90's Ladies Hostel Actress Malayalam TV series
    2001 Razzmatazz Co-host Hindi with Arshad Warsi
    2007 Star Wars Host Malayalam Won, Asian Television Award for Best Anchor
    2008–2009 Dancing Queen Contestant Hindi
    2009 Honeymoon Travels Host Malayalam Replacing Lalu Alex
    2010 Deal Or No Deal Participant Malayalam
    2010 Idea Star Singer Celebrity Judge Malayalam
    2010 Super Jodi Judge Malayalam
    2011–2012 Veruthe Alla Bharya Host Malayalam
    2012 Veruthe Alla Bharya Season 2 Host Malayalam Replaced by Rimi Tomy
    2013 Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran Participant Malayalam
    2015 Veruthe Alla Bharya Season 3 Host Malayalam
    2015–2016 Comedy Stars Season 2 Judge Malayalam
    2015 Star Challenge Participant Malayalam
    2015 Page 3 Model Malayalam
    2016–2017 Katturumbu Judge Malayalam
    2016 Aluvayum Mathikariyum Herself Malayalam Cameo in promo
    2016 Onachithrangal Special host Malayalam
    2017 Manasaveera Promo anchor Malayalam Promotion of the show
    2017 Comedy Circus Judge Malayalam
    2017 Tharodayam new face hunt Judge Malayalam
    2017 Laughing Villa Season 2 Judge Malayalam
    2017 Asianet Comedy Awards Promo anchor Malayalam
    2018 Super Jodi Judge Malayalam Replaced by Annie
    2018 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 1) Contestant Malayalam Evicted on day 35
    2019 Kusruthi Kudumbam Host Malayalam
    2020 Suryajodi No.1 Judge Malayalam Replacing Ineya
    2020–2021 Comedy Stars Season 2 Judge Malayalam
    2020–2021 Funny Nights Judge/Host Malayalam
    2020 Red Carpet Mentor Malayalam
    2021 Udan Panam Contestant Malayalam
    2021–2022 Star Magic Mentor Malayalam
    2021 Super Power Mentor Malayalam
    2021 Aram + Aram = Kinnaram Host Malayalam
    2021 Manjil Virinja Poovu Actress Shweta (Guest Role) Malayalam TV Serial
    2021–2022 Comedy Stars Season 3 Judge Malayalam
    2021 Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri Judge Malayalam
    2021 Asianet Big B Dhamaka Contestant Malayalam
    2022 Mounaragam Actress Shweta (Guest Role) Malayalam TV Serial
    2022 Comedy Masters Judge Malayalam
    2022 Flowers Oru Kodi Contestant Malayalam
    2023 Dancing Stars Judge Malayalam replacing Durga Krishna
    2023–2024 Ammayum Makalum Judge Malayalam
    2023–2024 Kidilam Judge Malayalam
    2024 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 6) Guest Malayalam Day 59-61 as Challenger[34]

    Dubbing artist

    In 2017, she lent her voice for the role of a police officer played by Raashi Khanna in Malayalam film Villain.

    References

    1. ^ a b c "Happy Birthday Shwetha Menon: Lesser known facts about the diva". The Times of India.
    2. ^ a b c Gomes, Eric Joseph (20 April 2023). "Swetha Menon Biography: Age, Birthday, Early Life, Career, Controversies, Awards".
    3. ^ a b "Actress Shweta Menon's father passes away". 1 September 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
    4. ^ "Shweta Menon is a third runnerup in Miss India contest '94". The Times of India. 11 June 2014.
    5. ^ "Divorce is like mercy killing: Bobby". The Times of India. 17 August 2007.
    6. ^ "Bigg Boss Malayalam: Mohanlal's show to begin from June 24". The Indian Express. 2 June 2018.
    7. ^ "Bigg Boss Malayalam: Mohanlal releases the motion poster". ETimes. 2 June 2018.
    8. ^ "Back to Mollywood". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 June 2006. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012.
    9. ^ "Shwetha Menon is the cousin of Anoop Menon". The Times of India. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    10. ^ Divorce is like mercy killing: Bobby. The Times of India (17 August 2007). Retrieved 24 December 2011.
    11. ^ "ഞെട്ടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന മേക്ക് ഓവറിൽ ശ്വേത മേനോൻ; പാട്ടും ട്രെൻഡായി". ManoramaOnline.
    12. ^ Shwetha Menon [@menonshwetha] (6 December 2010). "Met with Womens' [sic] Commission regarding the Kayam ad and they offered me full backing. Thank you all and I hope justice will be done" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 March 2014 – via Twitter.
    13. ^ "Battle of the campuses". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007.
    14. ^ "The Sunday Tribune – Spectrum – Television". The Tribune. 18 November 2001. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
    15. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (24 November 2011). "All in the family". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
    16. ^ "Actress Shwetha Menon back to entertain with TV show 'Kusruthi Kudumbam'". Onmanorama. 24 May 2019.
    17. ^ "Bobby makes a comeback". The Times of India. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
    18. ^ "Shwetha Menon enters wedlock". The Times of India. 18 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
    19. ^ "Divorce is like mercy killing: Bobby". The Times of India. 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016.
    20. ^ "Court rejects Shweta Menon's anticipatory bail plea". Hindustan Times. 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    21. ^ "Model Shweta Menon appears before local court". Zee News. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    22. ^ Galatta (7 May 2011). "Misuse of Shweta's stills: K.C. Abraham arrested". Yahoo News India. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    23. ^ "Musli Power maker moves high court". The Times of India. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    24. ^ "Swetha Menon's Kalimannu delivery scene sparks controversy". Times of AP. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    25. ^ "Actress Shweta Menon withdraws Molestation Charges against Congress MP". Retrieved 3 November 2013.
    26. ^ "Mammotty, Kavya Madhavan bag Asiavision awards". Emirates 24/7. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
    27. ^ Soman, Deepa (13 August 2014). "I am a mad person and I like to work with mad people!". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
    28. ^ Soman, Deepa (20 June 2014). "Shwetha Menon, Jayaram and Kadhal Sandhya join Bhagyaraj for Thunai Mudalvar". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
    29. ^ Suresh, Meera (25 November 2014). "Her Life, Her Woes". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
    30. ^ "'Pallimani' gets a release date". The Times of India. 12 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
    31. ^ "Meera Jasmine and Narain's Queen Elizabeth gets a release date". Cinema Express. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
    32. ^ "Badal Premiere Locked: Shwetha Menon's Political Thriller Will Release On THIS Date". News18. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
    33. ^ "'Nagendran's Honeymoons': First look of Suraj Venjaramoodu's web series with Nithin Renji Panicker out". The Hindu. 23 May 2024.
    34. ^ "Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6: Former contestant Shweta Menon enters house as second challenger; WATCH". Asianet News.

    External links

    • Official website
    • Shweta Menon at IMDb
    • Shweta Menon Photo Gallery
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