Krithi Shetty

Mangaluru-born Krithi Shetty took her first lead role in Buchi Babu Sana's Telugu film Uppena (2021), playing a zamindar's daughter. The film was a commercial success and won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South, and she has a SIIMA Award as well. Born on 21 September 2003 in Mangaluru, Karnataka, she appeared in commercials while still a student, and before Uppena she had a minor part in the Hindi film Super 30. Her work is largely in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Later in 2021 she was a psychology student opposite Nani in Shyam Singha Roy. Four films released in 2022: Bangarraju, Macherla Niyojakavargam, Aa Ammayi Gurinchi Meeku Cheppali and The Warriorr. The bilingual Custody brought her into Tamil cinema in 2023. Both her 2024 films did well, the Telugu film Manamey and ARM, her Malayalam debut, in which she played Lakshmi opposite Tovino Thomas; ARM became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films. Two Tamil films came in 2026, Vaa Vaathiyaar with Karthi and Love Insurance Kompany with Pradeep Ranganathan. Ahead on her list is the Telugu film January 12 Vidudala, expected in 2027.