Shwetha Menon

Shwetha Menon (born 23 April 1974),

Starting her career as an actress in Malayalam feature films in the early 1990s, she ventured into modeling and became noted, after participating in and winning several beauty pageants, which led to her debut in Hindi cinema. It was the film Ishq (1997) and also Bandhan (1998). Following appearances in over 30 Hindi films, in which she generally conveyed a glamorous image, her acting career took a turn by the mid-2000s, with her returning to Malayalam cinema and accepting substantial roles. She received critical praise and several accolades including the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009) and Salt N' Pepper (2011). In 2018, she contestant in the Malayalam reality TV series Bigg Boss and was eliminated after 36 episodes aired on Asianet, hosted by the veteran actor Mohanlal. She simultaneously appeared in commercial films, television reality shows and parallel films.

Shwetha Menon was elected as president of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in 2025 and becomes 1st woman president of AMMA. She along with 17 other executive committee members resigned on 21 June 2026 due to amid controversy and internal disputes in AMMA.

Early life Shwetha Menon was born on 23 April 1974

Career Films She started her career as an actress in the Malayalam film Anaswaram (1991), directed by Jomon, playing the female lead opposite Mammootty, after which she focused on modeling. She competed in the Miss India contest in 1994 and finished third runner-up behind Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai and Fransesca Hart. She became the first Gladrags female super model in 1994 (Kelly Dorjee was the male super model) and then, Miss Asia Pacific semi-finalist in 1994 in Manila Cebu Island, Philippines. She subsequently made her debut in Hindi cinema and appeared in over 30 films; some of her Bollywood films include Asoka (2001), Maqbool (2003) and Corporate (2006).

Menon returned to Malayalam in 2006 with Thantra and then went on to do famous Malayalam films such as Keerthi Chakra (2006) and the award-winning Paradesi. Her performance as Sarojini, a middle-class woman who fights against extreme odds, in Madhya Venal earned her a special mention by jury chairman Bahman Ghobadi, a famous Iranian director at the International Film Festival of Kerala. In 2010, she won the Kerala State Government's Best Actress for her portrayal of Cheeru, a village woman in the film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha directed by Ranjith. She won the Mathrubhumi-Amrita TV Special Jury Award and the Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same film. In 2011, Shweta Menon starred in the remake of Rathinirvedam an Erotic Movie, playing the titular character, originally played by Jayabharathi. In the same year, she got the Kerala State Award for Salt N' Pepper. For her next movie, Naval Enna Jewel, Shweta Menon has undergone a remarkable makeover as an elderly man.

In 2010, Menon approached a local court and the Women's Commission in Kerala after the distributor of her movie tied up with Musli Power, a sex stimulant drug, to jointly promote the movie. "Met with Women's Commission regarding the Kayam ad and they offered me full backing. Thank you all and I hope justice will be done," she tweeted.

Television Besides working in films, she has anchored several TV, stage and film awards shows. Menon rose to popularity after presenting the musical programme, Star Wars on Kairali TV in 2008. She won the Asian Television Award for Best Anchor for the same program. In Hindi, she hosted the group band based show, Razzmatazz on Zee TV with actor Arshad Warsi. The next television show she did was Dancing Queen in 2008 on Colors. In 2010, she anchored the Malayalam reality show, Honeymoon Travels on Surya TV. The show became an instant hit for Shwetha's accented Malayalam and her attempts to read from the original script without a formal learning in the language. Recently, she appeared as a contestant with her father in the game show, Deal or No Deal on Surya TV. She was the anchor of the family-based reality show Veruthe Alla Bharya on Mazhavil Manorama. She has participated in the popular game show Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran on Asianet. She was running popular comedy reality show Minto Goal Comedy Stars on Asianet in 2015. She has acted in many advertisements. She was a contestant in the season 1 of the reality TV show Bigg Boss aired on Asianet, from which she was eliminated after 36 episodes. In 2019 she made her TV comeback as the host for a family talent hunt show on Mazhavil Manorama titled Kusurthi Kudumbam.

Personal life Shwetha was married to Bollywood model, Bobby Bhonsle, but it ended up in divorce. On 18 June 2011, she married Sreevalsan Menon, a native of Thrissur. The ceremony took place at the Neythalappurath Sastha Ayappa temple, Valanchery, Kerala. She has a daughter, whose delivery was recorded on camera as part of the film Kalimannu.

Controversies Shwetha Menon was charged with insulting the Indian flag at a fashion show on 5 January 2004. The show was organized by NIFD at a resort, where Menon walked the ramp allegedly with the tricolour wrapped around her body.

In 2011, she filed a case against Kunnath Pharmaceuticals' managing director K. C. Abraham for misusing stills from her film Kayam (2011) for promoting their Ayurvedic aphrodisiac Musli Power Extra. The Ernakulam Central Police arrested Abraham.

Shwetha allowed her delivery to be recorded for Blessy's film Kalimannu (2013). The act was condemned for commercializing the most private affair of a woman by the Kerala Film Exhibitors.

On 4 November 2013, she filed a case against N. Peethambara Kurup of the Indian National Congress in a groping incident. Shweta later dropped her complaint against Kurup, saying the 71-year-old leader tendered a "personal apology" to her hours after she lodged the FIR against him.

Awards Kerala State Film Awards 2009 – Best Actress – Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha 2011 – Best Actress – Salt N' Pepper

Filmfare Awards South 2009 – Best Actress – Malayalam – Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha

South Indian International Movie Awards 2012 – SIIMA Award for Actress – Special Appreciation – Rathinirvedam 2013 – SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Ozhimuri

Other Awards 2009 – Asian Television Award for Best TV Anchor 2009 – Special Mention at International Film Festival of Kerala by Jury Chairman, Bahman Ghobadi about performance in Madhyavenal 2010 – Amrita TV – Mathrubhumi Special Jury Award – Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha 2010 – Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha 2013 – Asianet Film Awards for Best Character Actress – Ozhimuri 2013 – Asiavision Awards – Outstanding Performance – Kalimannu 2018 : Milan Film Festival 2018 – Best Supporting Actress -Naval Enna Jewel

Filmography Films

+ List of Shwetha Menon film credits Year Title Role Language Notes 1991 Anaswaram Catherine Malayalam 1992 Welcome to Kodaikanal Kavitha Malayalam Nakshthrakoodaram Nirmala S. Menon Malayalam 1993 Koushalam Sashikala Malayalam 1995 Desa Drohulu Anu Telugu 1997 Prithvi Lucky Hindi Ishq Dancer Hindi Special appearance 1998 Bandhan Vaishali Hindi 2000 Shikari Tania Jacobs Hindi Snegithiye Police Inspector, Jayashree Tamil Sandhitha Velai Dancer Tamil Special appearance 2001 Asoka Nandaneshwari Hindi Anandam Dancer in song Telugu Special appearance Khatron Ke Khiladi Dancer Hindi Kakkakuyil Dancer Malayalam Special appearance Dubai Dancer Malayalam Item Dance 2002 Kaaboo Dancer/Singer Hindi Special appearance Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hindi Vadh Hindi Cameo Annarth Khatun Hindi Cameo Ab Ke Baras Chembakam Hindi Anokha Bandhan Hindi 2003 Koi Hai... Liza Hindi Tu Bal Bramhachari Main Hoon Kanya Kunwari Rani Hindi Dhund: The Fog Tanya Khurana Hindi Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye Sheela Hindi 88 Antop Hill Teesta Hindi Kahan Ho Tum Santhali Hindi Maqbool Mohini Hindi Gokarna item dancer Kannada Market Isha Hindi Mission Mumbai Hindi Juniors Telugu Cameo Hungama Hindi 2004 The Killer – Ek Qatil Hindi Omkara Kannada Cameo Run Ganpat's wife Hindi 30 Days Paro/Shalu Hindi Bazaar: Market of Love, Lust and Desire Hindi Shikaar Rama Sahay Hindi 2005 Mera Yudh Hindi Bad Friend Hindi Vardi Hindi Topless Hindi Fresh Lime Hindi Dhamkee Chandni Hindi 2006 Corporate Archana Hindi Sandwich Maggie Hindi Keerthi Chakra Aathira Malayalam Pakal Latha Mohankumar Malayalam Thanthra Swethamukhi Malayalam 2007 Raakilipattu Jayasree Malayalam Nehlle Pe Dehlla dancer/singer Hindi Cameo Aur Phir Ek Din Hindi Paradesi Aamina Malayalam Rock n' Roll Meenakshi Malayalam Abraham & Lincoln Lulu Malayalam 2008 Summer 2007 D.S.P Keerti Hindi Special appearance Laptop Mother Malayalam Aakasha Gopuram Alice Malayalam Samayam Manikyam Malayalam 2009 Kisse Pyaar Karoon Chameli / Julie Hindi Naan Avanillai 2 Nisha Tamil Madhya Venal Sarojini Malayalam Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha Cheeru Malayalam Kerala Cafe Devi Malayalam segment "Aviraamam" 2010 Chase Kareena Chopra Hindi Cameo Pokkiri Raja Dancer Malayalam Special appearance Penpattanam Suhara Malayalam Sadgamaya Jyothi Malayalam T. D. Dasan Std. VI B Chandrika Malayalam Valiyangadi Lakshmi Malayalam Kadaksham Revathy Malayalam 2011 Kayam Thamara Malayalam August 15 Dr. Farida Malayalam City of God Liji Punnose Malayalam Rathinirvedam Rathi Malayalam Salt N' Pepper Maya Krishnan Malayalam Rajanna Dorasanni Telugu 2012 Unnam Sereena Malayalam Aravaan Rajaambaal Tamil Special appearance Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty Sareena Malayalam No. 66 Madhura Bus Rita Mammen Malayalam Ivan Megharoopan Maya Maheswari Malayalam Ithra Mathram Sumithra Malayalam Ozhimuri Kaliamma Malayalam Parudeesa Thresia Malayalam Aakasmikam Anitha Malayalam 2013 Mumbai Police Dr. Tanuja Nair Malayalam Kalimannu Meera Malayalam Careebeyans Catherine Malayalam 2014 100 Degree Celsius Nila Malayalam Also playback singer 2015 Thunai Mudhalvar Thangamani Tamil Appavum Veenjum Dr.Nayana Malayalam Rudrasimhasanam Umayamma Malayalam Akeldamayile Pennu Agnes Malayalam Maayamalika Manikyam Malayalam Haram Herself Malayalam 2016 Dhanayathra Vijila Malayalam 2017 Inayathalam Helen Tamil Naval Enna Jewel Chachu Malayalam 2018 Kammara Sambhavam Malayil Maheshwari Malayalam Premanjali Subhadra Malayalam Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Dr. Renuka Subramanian Malayalam 2019 Fancy Dress Priya Malayalam 2021 Black Coffee Maya Krishnan Malayalam 2023 Pallimani Lillykutty Malayalam Queen Elizabeth Dr. Shanti Krishna Malayalam 2024 Badal Naxalite Reena Malayalam 2025 Jangar Malli Malayalam Karam Dr. Nandita Bose Malayalam

Web series + List of Shwetha Menon web series credits Year Title Role Language Notes 2024 Nagendran's Honeymoons Laila Sulthana Malayalam Disney+ Hotstar

Television + List of television credits Year Show Role Channel Language Notes 90's Manasi Actress Malayalam TV series 90's Ladies Hostel Actress Malayalam TV series 2001 Razzmatazz Co-host Zee TV Hindi with Arshad Warsi 2007 Star Wars Host Malayalam Won, Asian Television Award for Best Anchor 2008–2009 Dancing Queen Contestant Colors TV Hindi 2009 Honeymoon Travels Host Malayalam Replacing Lalu Alex 2010 Deal or No Deal Participant Surya TV Malayalam 2010 Idea Star Singer Celebrity Judge Asianet Malayalam 2010 Super Jodi Judge Malayalam 2011–2012 Veruthe Alla Bharya Host Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2012 Veruthe Alla Bharya Season 2 Host Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam Replaced by Rimi Tomy 2013 Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran Participant Asianet Malayalam 2015 Veruthe Alla Bharya Season 3 Host Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2015–2016 Comedy Stars Season 2 Judge Asianet Malayalam 2015 Star Challenge Participant Malayalam 2015 Page 3 Model Malayalam 2016–2017 Katturumbu Judge Flowers TV Malayalam 2016 Aluvayum Mathikariyum Herself Asianet Plus Malayalam Cameo in promo 2016 Onachithrangal Special host Malayalam 2017 Manasaveera Promo anchor Asianet Plus Malayalam Promotion of the show 2017 Comedy Circus Judge Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2017 Tharodayam new face hunt Judge Malayalam 2017 Laughing Villa Season 2 Judge Malayalam 2017 Asianet Comedy Awards Promo anchor Asianet Malayalam 2018 Super Jodi Judge Malayalam Replaced by Annie 2018 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 1) Contestant Asianet Malayalam Evicted on day 35 2019 Kusruthi Kudumbam Host Malayalam 2020 Suryajodi No.1 Judge Surya TV Malayalam Replacing Ineya 2020–2021 Comedy Stars Season 2 Judge Asianet Malayalam 2020–2021 Funny Nights Judge/Host Zee Keralam Malayalam 2020 Red Carpet Mentor Amrita TV Malayalam 2021 Udan Panam ContestantMazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2021–2022, 2024 Star Magic Mentor Flowers TV Malayalam 2021 Super Power Mentor Malayalam 2021 Aram + Aram = Kinnaram Host Surya TV Malayalam 2021 Manjil Virinja Poovu Actress Shweta (Guest Role) Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam TV Serial 2021–2022 Comedy Stars Season 3 Judge Asianet Malayalam 2021 Oru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper Chiri Judge Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2021 Asianet Big B Dhamaka ContestantAsianet Malayalam 2022 Mounaragam Actress Shweta (Guest Role) Asianet Malayalam TV Serial 2022–present Comedy Masters Judge Amrita TV Malayalam 2022 Oru Kodi Contestant Flowers TV Malayalam 2023 Dancing Stars Judge Asianet Malayalam replacing Durga Krishna 2023–2024 Ammayum Makalum Judge Amrita TV Malayalam 2023–2024 Kidilam Judge Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam 2024 Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 6) Guest Asianet Malayalam Day 59–61 as Challenger 2024-2025 Enkile Ennodu Para Host Asianet Malayalam

Dubbing artist In 2017, she lent her voice for the role of a police officer played by Raashii Khanna in Malayalam film Villain.