Krithi Shetty

All Heart

At a time when insouciance is considered cool, Krithi Shetty makes a case for vulnerability. In this candid interview, the South star opens up about holding space for emotions in an industry that often demands detachment. From her mother’s role in shaping her journey to navigating online hate, each answer feels refreshingly earnest.

Photography by Tejas Nerurkar; Styling by Sheefa Gilani; Makeup by Savleen Manchanda; Hairstyling by Sajan Thapa; Artist Reputation Management by Raindrop Media; Creative Direction by Arthi Medithi; Words by Kajol Shah

From her caramel voice and wide, expressive eyes to the tennis-core pleated skirt and tee she's wearing today, everything about Krithi Shetty seems to be dusted with sugar and a certain camera-ready sheen. That's her brand. And I recently came across the soft power of this brand.

In a video Krithi recently posted on Instagram, she's seen simply pouring filter coffee back and forth the tumbler and dabarah, then sipping on it and breaking into a little happy jig. The ten-second video racked up 13.3 million views and over 6 million likes. The digits keep changing, but the 'M' beside them stays constant throughout her feed.

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Designer, Geisha Designs; Necklace & ring, Araiya by Aza

Teenage Dreams

With a Louis Vuitton purse in one hand and a cutesy pink makeup bag in the other, Krithi hops off a Mercedes along with her mom(ager), giving off the air of a pared-back Elle Woods. The popular (but not to be mistaken for mean) girl in college you cannot miss. Though only 22, she has spent nearly a decade in the industry, having started at the age of 15, and still carries herself with rare innocence and an infectious alacrity. “I auditioned endlessly at the start of my career, often waiting in line for hours after school.” After her short yet memorable feature in Hrithik Roshan starrer Super 30, Krithi got her big break 2 years later in Uppena alongside Vijay Sethupathi. “She lost a year due to Covid,” adds Mother Shetty. “I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get into films. I was seriously considering medicine and textile science until I heard the narration of Uppena. I knew that if I didn’t do the film, I would regret it someday.”

I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get into films. I was seriously considering medicine and textile science until I heard the narration of Uppena.

What does ambition look like for someone who started this young? For Krithi, who has spent most of her teenage life in the public eye, progress is defined less by outcomes and more by action. Building skills that strengthen her craft matters just as much as variegating her portfolio. And the privileges of time and youthful energy have allowed her to pursue both with full dedication. Elaborating on the same with an example, she says, “Having been raised here in Mumbai, Hindi was my primary language along with Tulu, my mother tongue. I had to learn Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam for my films, and being young allowed me to absorb these dialects with relative ease,” she trails off for a second, distracted by chatter about the latest iPhone, and then quickly zaps back into the conversation. “Even on the set of Uppena, the AD bhaiyas would break down each word, explain its meaning and help me learn the lines. And the director, Buchi sir, helped me understand the culture so I could give an authentic portrayal of the character.” Another learning she notes, “The world is not always as beautiful as I imagined.”

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Designer, Azeera; Earrings & ring, Araiya by Aza

Leading with Vulnerability

Propped against a hollow red box, Krithi's currently turning up the heat in a silver Azeera lehenga and Araiya by Aza lab-grown diamonds — it feels like a novel experience seeing her in this avatar. And that's exactly the kind of expansion the young star has been striving for since her debut. “When a bunch of scripts came my way that were similar to my role in Uppena, I worried they wouldn’t give me the chance to grow or offer anything new to my audience. Then came Shyam Singha Roy.” A cigarette-smoking, kohl-eyed psychology graduate is hardly a character tailor-made for Krithi. Yet she rises to the challenge in the romantic period drama, taking inspiration from Sridevi’s transformative performances in ChaalBaaz and Sadma.

While the film opened new avenues for Krithi, it also introduced her, firsthand, to the internet's dark side. Prompted by a sensual scene in the movie between Krithi and Nani, censorious arbiters of morality hurled online hate at the cast and filmmakers, questioning the appropriateness of shooting such a sequence with a minor. “Happy and secure people don't put out hate. I try to remind myself that constantly, yet on difficult days, the negativity gets to me,” says the young star, carrying the flag of an emotionally transparent Gen Z. “Even watching others face hate deeply affects me.” She pauses, then shares how she navigates the overwhelming feelings. “I take a step back, spend time with family, and do things that bring joy.” There's also a quiet, internal reassurance she returns to, a mental SOS of sorts: “They don't know the hard work behind your journey, and that's something nobody can take away from you.”

Happy and secure people don't put out hate. I try to remind myself that constantly, yet on difficult days, the negativity gets to me.

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Designer, Mahima Mahajan; Necklace, earrings & ring, Raj Jewellery X Joules by Radhika

The intensity of the toll the hate takes on Krithi — and her response to it — may not seem proportionate. Some may even go so far as to say that she suffers from “good girl syndrome”. By some, I mean her coach. “It's feedback that I often receive from my acting classes and workshops ... that I'm too soft and that my voice is too low.” Asking Krithi to not be “soft” is as good as asking her to peel the husk of her natural self. Yet, for the sake of her craft, she's willing to unlearn. “I would like to do an action role someday, like a warrior princess. That would require me to showcase aggression, and I want to be able to get there naturally.” She chuckles and then adds, “I can actually count the times I've gotten angry and yelled at someone. It's not a lot.”

I would like to do an action role someday, like a warrior princess. That would require me to showcase aggression, and I want to be able to get there naturally.

With four looks down and the metaphorical clock striking three, it's a studio filled with metaphorical growling bears. “She's not even had breakfast,” says a member from her entourage. Hangry? Not Krithi.

In the Genes

Draped in a floral-printed pre-draped saree with a Venetian red-hued blouse from the Aza X Shilpa Shetty Kundra exclusive collection, Krithi channels the allure of an archetypal South Siren. “You can pull off the saree like Shilpa” exclaims the photographer. Shetty genes are on full display. And that's my cue to segue into a conversation about her mother, who may have been a silent, proud observer on set today but has played a far more significant role in the cover star's professional ascendance.

Krithi Shetty in Aza X Shilpa Shetty Kundra

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Designer, Aza X Shilpa Shetty Kundra; Bangles & ring, MRJewels

Mom would even travel ten to fifteen kilometers to find me the best weekend dance classes

A part of the momager cohort alongside the likes of Madhu Chopra and Kris Jenner, Neethi Shetty can be credited with introducing the phenomenon that is her daughter to the world. Krithi elegantly takes the last bite of her vegan burrito bowl, before tending to my curiosity about her working mother's role in her career growth, “Mom had to leave her job back in the day to take on the role of my full-time support system, and I'm very grateful for that.”

How does a quiet and introverted girl, as described by Krithi herself — go on to audition endlessly for a career in showbiz? I'd say it's part passion, part familial support. “My parents would go out of their way to make sure I pursued all my interests, whether it's acting, gymnastics or dancing. Mom would even travel ten to fifteen kilometers to find me the best weekend dance classes.”

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Designer, Seema Gujral; Earrings & ring, Araiya by Aza

As we near the end of the shoot, Krithi offers a glimpse into what lies ahead: two Tamil releases in the pipeline, alongside three other projects she stays tight-lipped about, and an intent to step into Bollywood. On the personal front, there’s a desire to learn horse riding and to give back to society.

To paraphrase a great philosopher — in the theatre of our minds, the heart plays the lead while the brain directs the plot. This seems especially true for Krithi Shetty.

Channel Krithi Shetty's siren energy with our curated edit.

Also Read:In a candid chat with Aza, Chellamma singer Jonita Gandhi talks identity, dream collaborations, that A.R. Rahman tweet, and her musical journey.

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Krithi Shetty

Teenage Dreams

Leading with Vulnerability

In the Genes

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