Shweta Menon, a celebrated Indian actress and TV presenter, enjoys widespread recognition for her remarkable portrayal of Cheeru in the Malayalam film Paleri Manikyam. Her recent participation in Bigg Boss Malayalam has further amplified her public profile. This detailed biography explores her life, career, and controversies.

Biography/Wiki

Born on April 23, 1974, in Chandigarh, India, Shweta Menon spent her childhood in various locations across India due to her father’s service in the Indian Air Force. These locations included Kerala, Pathankot, Pune, and Allahabad. Her roots trace back to Valanchery in Malappuram district, Kerala. From a young age, she displayed a keen interest in acting and modelling, passions that would shape her future career. Her successful acting career led to her participation in the highly popular Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1, hosted by the renowned Mohanlal.

Physical Appearance

Standing at approximately 5’7″ and weighing around 60 kg, Shweta possesses striking features: dark brown eyes and black hair. Her beauty and talent have captivated audiences throughout her career.

Family, Caste & Boyfriend

Hailing from a middle-class Hindu family, Shweta’s parents are Malayali. Her father, T. V. Narayanankutti, served as a flight lieutenant in the Air Force, while her mother, Sarada Menon, is a homemaker. Notably, the acclaimed Malayalam actor Anoop Menon is her cousin.

Shweta’s marital history includes a marriage to actor and writer Bobby Bhonsle in 2004, which ended in divorce in 2007. She subsequently married journalist Sreevalsan Menon on June 18, 2011. The couple has a daughter, Sabaina Menon, born in 2012.

Career

Her education spanned various schools due to her father’s transfers, including Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 in Kozhikode, Kerala. She made her acting debut in 1991 with the Malayalam film Anaswaram, playing the role of Catherine. Simultaneously, she participated in several beauty pageants, notably winning the title of Miss Bangalore.

In 1994, she was the second runner-up in the Miss India pageant (Aishwarya Rai was the first runner-up, and Sushmita Sen won). That same year, she achieved the significant milestone of becoming the first Gladrags Female Super Model, opening doors to numerous opportunities in the modelling world. She even directed various fashion shows.

Shweta’s career also extended to reality TV shows such as Dancing Queen (2008), Deal Or No Deal (2010, with her father), and Star Challenge (2015).

Her hosting skills shone through in various Malayalam TV shows, including Star Wars (2007), Honeymoon Travels (2009), and Veruthe Alla Bharya (Seasons 1-3, 2011-2015). She further showcased her versatility by judging numerous Malayalam reality shows like Comedy Stars Season 2, Katturumbu, Komedy Circus, Tharodayam New Face Hunt, Laughing Villa Season 2, and Super Jodi.

Her impressive career has been marked by numerous awards, including the Asian Television Award (2007) for Best Anchor for Star Wars, and Kerala State Film Awards (2009 and 2011) for Best Actress for her roles in Paleri Manikyam and Salt N’ Pepper, respectively.

Her participation in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1 (2018) solidified her status as a high-profile contestant; reportedly, she received a daily salary of ?1 Lakh.

Controversies

Several controversies have marked Shweta’s career. These include a complaint regarding alleged disrespect of the national flag during a fashion show, a legal dispute with Kunnath Pharmaceuticals over unauthorized use of her photographs, criticism for allowing her delivery to be filmed for Kalimannu, and an FIR filed against alleged molestation (later withdrawn after an apology).

Facts

Here are some interesting facts about Shweta Menon:

• First Malayalam TV anchor to host reality shows.
• Featured on the covers of various magazines, including Flash Movies and Inspire.
• Enjoys travelling and dancing.
• Non-vegetarian; enjoys Indian cuisine and sweets like paratha, biryani, appam, dosa, jalebi, and gulab jamun.

Awards and Recognitions