Girija Shettar, an actress with British and Indian heritage, first made a memorable mark on Indian cinema in the late 1980s. She is best known for starring as the heroine in two major South Indian films.

Her debut came in 1989 with the seminal Telugu romantic classic, Geethanjali, directed by Mani Ratnam, where she starred opposite Nagarjuna Akkineni. Her portrayal of the free-spirited, modern heroine was widely acclaimed and considered ahead of its time. In the same year, she found further success opposite Mohanlal in the Malayalam crime comedy Vandanam, directed by Priyadarshan.

The Bollywood Breakthrough That Slipped Away

Shettar was originally cast in the lead female role opposite Aamir Khan in the now-iconic Hindi film, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. However, she was only able to complete the film’s initial shooting schedule. Due to personal commitments that required her to return to London, she had to exit the production, and the role was subsequently given to Ayesha Jhulka.

The change in lead actress coincided with a massive overhaul of the film’s cast, which director Mansoor Khan undertook after facing numerous professional challenges during the initial filming phase. Despite the widespread recasting and reshoots, brief glimpses of Girija Shettar from her early filming stint can still be spotted in the final version of the movie.

Leaving India and the Fear of Regret

Following her missed opportunity in Bollywood and the cancellation of another film project, Shettar chose to step away from the industry entirely, leaving India to pursue a career in journalism.

In subsequent interviews, Shettar revealed the emotional toll of her departure. For many years, she intentionally avoided watching Indian movies, fearing that they might “trigger deep-seated regrets” about the promising acting career she chose to abandon just as it was taking flight.

After a long hiatus, Girija Shettar returned to the screen in 2024, starring in the Kannada film Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali.