Both parts of her name start with a seductive S, though the S in her case denotes not only the seduction subsumed in her persona, but also for style, sophistication and for sobriety with which she portrays herself. That is Shilpa for you, a woman of many seasons, a beauty who looks as winsome in the most traditional settings, as she does in the most contemporary. It is not just by her loveliness that she strikes a chord with her fans; it is also by her earthy attitude. When quizzed about her relationships she hedges the question with banter. “I don't have any time for a relationship,” she says. “Whatever little time I have I spend with my parents, sister and a few close friends. I also like to cook and watch films in theatres. I'm the ‘chawanni chaap’ audience who cheers and whistles.”

Chawanni chaap! Now where could you find an actress who would use such a term to describe herself? Certainly not in Bollywood! In a world full of stiflingly westernized starlets, Shilpa Shetty wins by evoking quaintly Indian charm. As far as her relationships are concerned, it is obvious that a dazzling beauty as her cannot face any dearth of male admirers. She has been linked to many top directors and actors. Her relationship with Salman has always been a matter of much speculation. She says, “I’ve known Salman for 10 years. Over the years our bond has strengthened. He has always been there for me, and vice versa. Now when we've two releases together people are talking about our friendship. He's a very dear friend and he always will be.”

Born in 8 July 1975, Shilpa made her debut in the murder mystery, Baazigar (1993) with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The film’s superlative success immediately catapulted her into the dizzying heights of stardom. She was no one-film wonder – a fact that she aptly proved when her Baazigar success was followed by another trailblazer film Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994). Since then Shilpa has played a wide variety of roles in about 50 films. When questioned about what she looked forward from every new film that she signs, she says, “Scripts that would appeal to audiences. I don't have to be the central character. Besides that, you know me. I've never planned anything in life. I'm just enjoying this phase in my career where I'm flowing with the tide.”

Appeal is certainly there in every film that Shilpa does. In her film Phir Milenge she plays the role of an AIDS victim. She says, “Yes, we're dealing with issues related to AIDS. You know I didn't even know there's a difference between HIV positive and AIDS. Imagine educated people don't know this! What I love about this film is that it puts the message across without being preachy. It's not a grim film. Like Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia" it tackles the issue of an HIV positive person's ostracism at her work place.” Phir Milenge won for Shilpa a heap load of critical acclaim. In 2005 her film Dus got released and was a popular success. Currently the 5’10” tall actress is sitting high in Bollywood heaven and has a spate of popular films lined up for release.