Sanam Prasad Shetty is an Indian actress and model whose career spans several South Indian film industries, including Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. Born to a Tulu father and a Telugu mother in Bangalore, Shetty initially pursued a career in software engineering, having studied computer engineering in college. However, her interests took a significant turn toward the world of fashion and film.
Sanam's journey into the entertainment industry began with her involvement in fashion shows during her college years. She was initially recruited to model by renowned fashion choreographer Prasad Bidapa, which led her to participate in the Miss Bangalore 2004 competition. Despite her budding modeling career, Sanam chose to work as a software engineer with companies such as Tata Consultancy Services starting in 2006. Her professional journey took her briefly to the United Kingdom, where she continued to work in software engineering while developing an interest in acting and amateur documentary filmmaking.
Upon returning to India, Shetty was reintroduced to Chennai's fashion scene by choreographer Ganesh Gurung. She began modeling for various brands in the city while balancing her work as a software engineer. By 2010, Shetty had become one of Chennai’s prominent models, along with her contemporaries such as Arthi Venkatesh.
Sanam’s film career began with her debut in the Malayalam film industry through "Cinema Company" in 2012. However, her first major role came in the Tamil science fiction film "Ambuli" (2012), which was notable for being the first digital stereoscopic Tamil film. Set in the 1970s, Shetty’s role as a young college girl caught up in mysterious village happenings received mixed reviews and did not achieve significant box office success. Despite this, Shetty continued to receive acting offers and appeared in several low-profile films such as "Ravu" (2013), "Maayai" (2013), and "Vilaasam" (2014). A highlight during this period was her supporting role in the Mammootty-starring film "Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus" (2014).
In the mid-2010s, Shetty’s filmography included a mix of small-budget films across various South Indian languages. Notable Tamil films from this period include "Katham Katham" (2015), "Vellaiya Irukiravan Poi Solla Maatan" (2015), and "Sadhuram 2" (2016). She also made appearances in Telugu films such as "Srimanthudu" (2015) and "Singam 123" (2015). Her Kannada debut came with "Atharva" (2018). In 2017, she took on the role of producer with her film "Magie," which told the story of a girl from Meghalaya. Unfortunately, the project was stalled due to a fallout with the lead actor Tharshan.
In 2019, Sanam was unexpectedly crowned Miss South India 2016 after the original titleholder, Meera Mithun, was dethroned due to fraudulent activities. Sanam’s visibility increased with her participation in the popular reality TV show "Bigg Boss Tamil" in 2020. Her stint on the show was well-received, and she was praised for her candidness and straightforward approach during the competition.
Sanam Shetty’s personal life gained media attention when she became engaged to actor Tharshan Thiyagarajah in May 2019. However, the engagement was called off later that year, and Shetty filed a police complaint against Tharshan for misuse of her funds.
Her film career has continued to evolve with recent roles in films like "Walter" (2020) and "Maha" (2022), where she made cameo appearances. Additionally, she starred in the web series "Kuruthi Kalam" (2021) on MX Player. Her upcoming projects include "Ethir Vinaiyatru," which is currently in post-production.
Sanam Prasad Shetty’s journey from a software engineer to a well-regarded actress and model in South Indian cinema showcases her diverse talents and resilience in the competitive world of entertainment.