How a reality dance winner became a rising star in South Indian cinema
In short: From the television screens of Karnataka to major blockbuster hits, Dheekshith Shetty has rapidly ascended through the ranks of Indian cinema. After winning a major dance competition, he transitioned from soap operas to award-winning performances in both Kannada and Telugu language films, proving his versatility across genres.
Dheekshith Shetty’s career trajectory is a testament to the power of multi-disciplinary talent. Born on 22 December 1995, Shetty first entered the public consciousness through Kannada television. His early work included roles in soap operas such as Preethi Endarenu and Saakshi in 2016, followed by a significant role in the supernatural drama Naagini, which aired from 2016 to 2020. His visibility increased dramatically in 2017 when he won the first season of the reality show Dance Karnataka Dance.
His transition into feature films proved highly successful. In 2020, he made his debut in the Kannada romantic drama Dia, directed by K. S. Ashoka. His performance as Rohit was critically acclaimed, earning him a SIIMA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Kannada. This success paved the way for further experimentation, including short films like Oh Fish and Navabelaku, and the experimental Kannada film Blink, which drew inspiration from the Oedipus myth.
Shetty has also successfully crossed over into Telugu cinema. After his 2021 debut in Mugguru Monagallu, he achieved a major breakthrough in the 2023 blockbuster Dasara, directed by Srikanth Odela. Playing the character Siddham "Suri," Shetty earned the SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu and a Filmfare nomination. His recent work continues to showcase his range, such as in the 2024 film KTM, where he portrayed four different avatars to represent a character's journey from adolescence to adulthood.
Looking ahead, Shetty is involved in diverse projects, including the Telugu film The Girlfriend, which features Rashminka Mandanna. While some reviews for that film have been mixed, critics like Sruthi Ganapathy Raman of The Hollywood Reporter India have praised his skillful leadership alongside Mandanna.
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