Shilpa Shetty has never celebrated her birthday in such simple fashion -- not even when she was just another student and athlete who was yet to succumb to Bollywood's lure. And ever since she became a star, Shetty, a Tulu originally from the Karavali coast of Karnataka, has always thrown a party in Mumbai to celebrate her birthday.
The Shetty family is mired in controversy; her father Surendra Shetty was recently accused of extortion and has had his bail petition rejected by the Gujarat high court. Shilpa was out of the country when the case first came up. She was performing at the IIFA awards in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by another performance at the Cannes International Film Festival.
When she returned to India, she avoided the press and made straight for Karnataka. The shooting schedules of Ondagona Baa, co-starring middle-aged but popular hero Ravichandran, came at a most convenient time; it took her to Mysore and then to Manipal.
So all Shilpa did this year to observe her birthday was attend a small party organised for her by Ondagona Baa's producer, Rockline Venkatesh. Ravichandran and a few of her acquaintances were there as well. Earlier in the day, the unit garlanded her and made her cut a cake on the sets.
After more than 10 days of avoiding the press, Shilpa finally stepped into the spotlight in Bangalore, at an Ondagona Baa press conference. Much before the do, Rockline and Ravichandran spread the word that she would turn down questions about her father's controversy. Only questions relating to their film would be answered, they said.
Shilpa appeared calm at the five-star hotel where the conference was held. She was dressed in a stylish lemon yellow churidar-kurta. "I have come to a press conference of this film," she said at the outset. "I will not answer questions on any subject other than this film."
Shilpa's first Kannada film, Preethisodu Thappa, had the same combination of producer, hero and music director (Hamsalekha) and did well at the box office.
Interestingly, Hamsalekha and Ravichandran fell apart after Preethisodu Thappa. After a three-year feud, the two made up and have come together for Ondagona Baa which, like Preethisodu Thappa, is a remake of a Telugu film.
Smiling vibrantly, Shilpa said, "It is great fun working in southern movies. I make it a point to work in at least one South film once in two or three years or whenever I am free."
Asked why she agreed to star in Ondagona Baa, she said it was because of its good script. "We have a good hero, Ravichandran, and a good cameraman, Seetharam," she explained. "Totally, we have a good team, and I hope the film clicks."
Shilpa spoke in English, explaining with a smile that though she is a Kannadiga she cannot speak the language well enough. She had to learn her dialogues in the film by rote, she admitted.
"The story revolves around a family. The character I play is both fun-loving and emotional. This role will really tap my potential fully. As for the plot, it is something that will appeal to everyone, from children to the elderly."
Shilpa is now shooting at Rockline's studio on the outskirts of the city, beyond Dasarahalli. The producer has refused to allow the media on the sets. Indoor scenes are being shot at this new studio, which is yet to be formally inaugurated.