by Neha Shetty is an Indian actress and model who works primarily in Telugu and Kannada cinema. She became widely popular after playing Radhika in DJ Tillu (2022), a role that established her as one of the recognizable young actresses in Telugu films. She has also appeared in Mungaru Male 2, Mehbooba, Gully Rowdy, Most Eligible Bachelor, Bedurulanka 2012, Rules Ranjann, Tillu Square, Gangs of Godavari and the Tamil film Dude.
Neha Shetty Biography – Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Neha Shetty |
| Date of Birth | 20 June 1994* |
| Birthplace | Mangalore, Karnataka |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Industry | Telugu & Kannada Cinema |
| Kannada Debut | Mungaru Male 2 |
| Telugu Debut | Mehbooba |
| Breakthrough | DJ Tillu |
| Popular Character | Radhika |
| Father | B. Hariraj Shetty |
| Mother | Nimi Shetty |
| Sibling | Navami Shetty |
| Acting Training | New York Film Academy |
| Tamil Debut | Dude |
*Birth information varies among online databases; the supplied biographical profile gives 20 June 1994.
Neha Shetty Age and Early Life
Neha Shetty was born in Mangalore, Karnataka, and grew up in Bengaluru. She comes from a Tulu-speaking family. Public biographical information identifies B. Hariraj Shetty as her father, Nimi Shetty as her mother and Navami Shetty as her sibling.
Before entering films, Neha developed an interest in modelling and dancing. She participated in beauty pageants and eventually received an opportunity to enter the Kannada film industry.
She has spoken about having to create her own path into cinema without relying on established industry connections. She studied the careers of actresses from Mangalore, took up dancing and modelling, and gradually moved toward acting.
Neha Shetty Education and Acting Training
Education and professional training played an important role in Neha Shetty’s development as an actress.
After her initial work in cinema, she moved to New York Film Academy to undertake an acting course. She later explained that after her first Telugu film did not perform as expected, she used the break to improve her acting skills.
This training became particularly useful when she returned to Telugu cinema and took on more demanding roles.
Neha Shetty Career and Film Debut
Neha Shetty began her film career with the Kannada romantic drama Mungaru Male 2 (2016). She played Nandini opposite Ganesh. The film introduced her to Kannada audiences and marked the beginning of her professional acting journey.
After her Kannada debut, she moved into Telugu cinema. Her Telugu debut came with Mehbooba (2018), directed by Puri Jagannadh and starring Akash Puri.
For Mehbooba, Neha learned Telugu because she was not familiar with the language when she began working on the film. She later said that she spent considerable time watching Telugu movies to understand the language and its performance style.
Mehbooba and Career Break
Although Mehbooba did not become a major commercial success, it provided Neha with valuable experience in Telugu cinema.
After the film, she temporarily stepped away from the industry to undergo acting training in New York. She returned to India with additional training but then faced another delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her career changed significantly when she received the opportunity to play Radhika in DJ Tillu.
Neha Shetty in DJ Tillu
DJ Tillu (2022) became the biggest breakthrough in the Neha Shetty biography.
The film starred Siddhu Jonnalagadda in the title role and Neha Shetty as Radhika. Her character was bold, confident and complicated, making it substantially different from the conventional romantic roles associated with many young actresses.
Neha has described Radhika as a challenging character because the role could easily have been misunderstood if either the writing or performance went wrong. The audience response, however, turned the character into one of the most recognizable aspects of the film.
DJ Tillu became a major success and transformed Neha’s career. Media coverage began identifying her strongly with the Radhika character, while the film gave her much greater visibility in Telugu cinema.
Neha Shetty Movies
Some of Neha Shetty’s important movies include:
- Mungaru Male 2 – 2016
- Mehbooba – 2018
- Gully Rowdy – 2021
- Most Eligible Bachelor – 2021
- DJ Tillu – 2022
- Bedurulanka 2012 – 2023
- Rules Ranjann – 2023
- Tillu Square – 2024
- Gangs of Godavari – 2024
- Dude – 2025
- They Call Him OG – 2025
Her filmography covers Kannada, Telugu and Tamil projects, although Telugu cinema has become the primary focus of her career.
Bedurulanka 2012
After the success of DJ Tillu, Neha appeared in Bedurulanka 2012 (2023), starring alongside Kartikeya Gummakonda.
She played Chitra, giving her another opportunity to move away from the Radhika image. The film combined comedy, drama and social satire and helped maintain the momentum she had gained from DJ Tillu.
Neha herself acknowledged the importance of the period following DJ Tillu and said that she still felt she had much more to achieve in her career.
Rules Ranjann
In Rules Ranjann (2023), Neha played Sana opposite Kiran Abbavaram.
The character differed from Radhika in DJ Tillu. Neha described Sana as a happy-go-lucky and adventurous girl from Tirupati who wants to explore the world.
The film allowed Neha to show a lighter and more cheerful side of her acting.
Tillu Square
Neha returned as Radhika in Tillu Square (2024), reprising her character from DJ Tillu. The sequel starred Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Anupama Parameswaran.
Although her appearance was not the central focus of the sequel, returning as Radhika connected the movie to the original franchise and allowed audiences to revisit the character that had played such an important role in Neha’s career.
Gangs of Godavari
In Gangs of Godavari (2024), Neha Shetty played Bujji opposite Vishwak Sen.
The film was set against a rural and political backdrop and presented Neha in a different environment from the urban romantic-comedy roles associated with DJ Tillu.
The project became another important Telugu film credit in her growing filmography.
Neha Shetty Tamil Debut
Neha Shetty expanded into Tamil cinema with Dude (2025), starring Pradeep Ranganathan.
She played Amudha in the film. This project marked another step in her multilingual career after establishing herself primarily through Telugu cinema.
She also appeared in They Call Him OG (2025) in a special performance associated with the song Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Neha Shetty Latest and Upcoming Movies
As of August 2026, Neha Shetty remains associated with new projects after her appearances in Dude and They Call Him OG.
Current film listings include Mega 158, which is listed with a 2026 release date.
Because several projects can change their production status or release schedules, upcoming-film information should be checked against the latest official announcements before publication.
Neha Shetty Acting Style
Neha Shetty has demonstrated a noticeable evolution throughout her career.
Her early roles in Mungaru Male 2 and Mehbooba introduced her as a young romantic lead. After her acting training, she returned with stronger confidence and took on the demanding Radhika role in DJ Tillu.
Her performances in Bedurulanka 2012, Rules Ranjann and Gangs of Godavari allowed her to explore different character types. Her move into Tamil cinema with Dude further expanded her professional range.
Her career demonstrates a combination of acting training, language adaptation and willingness to experiment with different roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neha Shetty?
Neha Shetty is an Indian actress and model who primarily works in Telugu cinema and has also appeared in Kannada and Tamil films.
What is Neha Shetty’s age?
The biographical profile supplied for her lists her date of birth as 20 June 1994. However, other public sources list a different birth year, so her exact age should be treated cautiously.
What was Neha Shetty’s first movie?
Her first film was the Kannada movie Mungaru Male 2, released in 2016.
What is Neha Shetty’s most famous role?
Her most widely recognized role is Radhika in DJ Tillu. The character became a major turning point in her career.
What are Neha Shetty’s popular movies?
Her notable films include Mungaru Male 2, Mehbooba, DJ Tillu, Bedurulanka 2012, Rules Ranjann, Tillu Square, Gangs of Godavari and Dude.
Did Neha Shetty study acting?
Yes. After her early Telugu film Mehbooba, she went to New York Film Academy for an acting course before returning to India.
Conclusion
Neha Shetty’s biography is a story of gradual growth rather than overnight success. She began her acting career with the Kannada film Mungaru Male 2 before entering Telugu cinema through Mehbooba. After taking time to train at New York Film Academy, she returned to the industry with greater preparation.
Her defining breakthrough came with DJ Tillu, where her portrayal of Radhika received widespread attention and changed the trajectory of her career. She subsequently appeared in Bedurulanka 2012, Rules Ranjann, Tillu Square and Gangs of Godavari, while expanding into Tamil cinema with Dude.
With her multilingual filmography and continued involvement in new projects, Neha Shetty is building a career that extends beyond the Radhika image that first made her widely popular.
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