Throwback Thursday: This Popular 90s Actress Once Worked As A Hairdresser in New Zealand, It’s Her Birthday!

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Think of an actress born in Mumbai to a father who played for Ranji Trophy, mother who was a part-time model, grandmother, a well known Marathi actress- overall raised in a home where creativity was her everyday life. She becomes a familiar face in 90s cinema, disappears from the industry after marriage, builds a serene life in Dubai, then returns more than a decade later through television and surprisingly wins over an entirely new audience. If that journey sounds like someone you remember from the golden era of Bollywood, you're right we're talking about Shilpa Shirodkar.

Photo Credit: Instagram@shilpashirodkar73

Born Into Films Before She Acted In One

Shilpa Shirodkar turns a year older today, and it feels like the perfect moment to revisit the life of a woman who slowly shaped a big part of 90s Bollywood. Born on 20 November 1973 in Mumbai, Shilpa grew up in an artistic Maharashtrian family. Her mother, Vanita Shirodkar, was a model; her father, Nitin Shirodkar, worked with Air-India and played Ranji Trophy; and her grandmother, Meenakshi Shirodkar, was a noted Marathi actress. With so much creativity around her, it's no surprise both Shilpa and her elder sister Namrata Shirodkar eventually stepped into the world of glamour.

Early Life: The Film Family And The Break That Changed Everything

Shilpa's entry into films wasn't the typical smooth launch. Despite coming from a creative household, with her elder sister Namrata who later won Femina Miss India 1993, Shilpa initially struggled to get noticed. She has often shared that she was even labelled "jinxed" after losing a few early opportunities.

Things changed when Mithun Chakraborty, her first co-star, stepped in and arranged a meeting with Ramesh Sippy, who cast her in Bhrashtachar (1989). Around the same time, Anil Kapoor also helped by carrying her photo album to various producers. These small but meaningful pushes opened the door to a career that would define the 90s for many of us.

The 90s: A Blend Of Glamour And Grit

And if you were a child of the 90s, you remember Shilpa for her relatable, natural charm. She acted opposite some of the biggest stars of the decade: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Nana Patekar and more.

What made her stand out was her range. She could be the glamorous lead in 'Hum' or 'Kishen Kanhaiya', but she could just as easily switch into raw, unfiltered roles like in 'Khuda Gawah'. She even played a cop in a full-on masala entertainer, something few heroines attempted back then.

And of course, her signature curly hair, fuller frame and warm, earthy beauty made her instantly recognisable at a time when Bollywood leaned towards limited "ideal" looks. Between 1990 and 2000, she featured in over 40 films, making her one of the era's most consistent actresses.

Marriage, Motherhood And A Life-Changing Break

In 2000, Shilpa married Aparesh Ranjit, a banker. Soon after, she stepped away from the limelight and moved abroad with him first to New Zealand, then Europe, and eventually settling in London.

They welcomed a daughter, Anoushka, in 2003. Shilpa embraced motherhood fully, and her 15-year break from acting wasn't planned as a "comeback later" kind of move. She simply chose family, a slower life, and the freedom to blend into a regular routine away from cameras.

It was also a time when she worked odd jobs, including a stint as a hairdresser in New Zealand, showing she wasn't someone who clung to fame.

The Strong Return: Television, New Audiences, And Bigg Boss

When Shilpa returned in 2013 with 'Ek Mutthi Aasmaan', it didn't feel like a nostalgic re-entry. It felt like a reinvention. She played a layered, mature character and connected with a whole new generation of viewers. More shows followed, keeping her steadily active and proving that talent doesn't fade; it just evolves.

Later, her entry into Bigg Boss introduced people to a calmer, grounded version of Shilpa - someone who had lived, grown, lost, rebuilt, and come back with a sense of clarity. She spoke about her struggles, her parents, her husband's support, and her personal challenges, all without turning it into drama. Her honesty won people over.

The Mahesh Babu Connection

Shilpa is also connected to one of India's biggest stars - Mahesh Babu, her brother-in-law (he's married to her elder sister Namrata). With Mahesh currently trending for his much-anticipated Rajamouli film 'Varanasi', co-starring Priyanka Chopra. Shilpa rarely ever highlights this connection, but for fans, it's an interesting crossover between Bollywood and Tollywood's biggest talent pools.

Where She Is Today

Today, Shilpa is back in Mumbai after spending many years abroad, and she prefers a serene, grounded routine. She takes up projects only when the role excites her, choosing work that fits the life she has built rather than chasing constant visibility. It's this clarity and the honesty with which she talks about her choices that keeps people connected to her even now.

Looking back on Shilpa Shirodkar's journey feels like flipping through an old album: familiar faces, iconic films, pauses, comebacks, and decisions driven by instinct rather than pressure. From her Mumbai childhood to her 90s success, from stepping away for family to returning when the timing felt right, Shilpa has lived a life shaped on her own terms and that's exactly what makes her story feel so real.

On her birthday today, this Throwback Thursday reminds us why she still holds a special place in our memories and why her story continues to resonate, years after the curtains first lifted on her career.