Shruti Seth (born 1977) is an Indian actress and video jockey. Having begun her career as television show host, she gained wider recognition with her roles as comedian in several television shows and the Hindi film industry.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Seth graduated St. Xavier's College with a degree in economics. She ventured into a modelling career and began hosting television shows for Channel V. A significant turning point came in her career when she cast in the role of Jiya Malhotra, a teenage in Star Plus's comedy series Shararat (2003–06). The show's popularity grew over the years and Seth gained prominence for her performance.

Seth made her film debut in 2003 with Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, and later earned praise for her supporting roles in top-grossing productionsFanaa (2006) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Seth starred in Disney Channel's original series The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir and continued to host such television shows as the Comedy Circus series.

Personal life Seth attended Ashok Academy and graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai with a degree in Economics and Commerce. She is married to film director Danish Aslam, and together they have a daughter named Alina. Seth is of Punjabi Hindu origin.

A controversy arose when Aslam commented on Twitter in critique of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's #selfiewithdaughter campaign for women and girls, which he announced in his Mann Ki Baat radio address. After this she started to receive abuse through Twitter and social media. This resulted in members of the media and Bollywood defending her against the abuse.You maybe next to get abused like Kavita Krishnan, Shruti Seth, and Twitter will do nothing . Firstpost. Retrieved on 22 September 2015.TV actress Shruti Seth faces abuse on Twitter for criticising PM over his #selfiewithdaughter campaign . News18.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2015.'Selfie with daughter' controversy: Bollywood supports Shruti Seth | Business Standard News . Business-standard.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2015.‘Selfie with daughter’ controversy over Modi: Bollywood supports Shruti Seth . The Financial Express (5 July 2015). Retrieved on 22 September 2015.

Career Early roles and recognition with Shararat (2001-2006) Seth started her career as a guest relation executive at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay. She began modelling at the same time "to make some pocket money", and was soon offered guest roles in a few television shows. Seth then hosted such successful shows as First Day First Show and Junglee Jukebox on Channel V. She said, in a later interview, that it was her time as a video jockey and television presenter on the channel "that firmly put me on the map."

Seth auditioned for a role in the Star Plus sitcom Shararat. Co-starring Farida Jalal and Eva Grover, the show followed the life of teenager who, on her eighteenth birthday, discovers she has magical powers. Seth was cast in the lead role as Kiya opposite Karanvir Bohra; her performance received positive response from critics and fans. The show was in itself a surprise success and ran for three years on the network.

Seth went on to star in other television show including Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, and Rishta.com on Sony Entertainment Television. On Rishta.com, she said in an interview that, "They (the Yash Raj serials) haven't got any TRPs at all. But it's not for the people who are watching TV in the first place. The whole TRP game is very skewed. I don't believe that in a population of over a billion people, 15,000 households decide what the entire country wants to watch. This lot of Yash Raj was conceptualised for those who are not watching TV". She further said in the same interview that "All our loyal audience for my serial on TV is in London, America, South Africa, Australia. It's not that the Indians will not like it, it's just sad that they are not aware of it, because the publicity has been disappointing". She has also hosted several seasons of Comedy Circus on Sony Channel.

Film expansion (2007-2019) Seth has starred in a few films. On moving from television to films, she stated that, "I haven't really moved on to anything. It's not that I would not do TV and only do films. Yes, more avenues have started opening for me. I am game for doing something exciting on any medium – stage, celluloid or TV".

Seth's first recognition in films came with the her role of Fatima "Fatty" in Fanaa (2006) with Aamir Khan and Kajol. The film emerged as the sixth-highest grossing Hindi film of the year. She then starred in Tara Rum Pum, produced by Yash Raj Films and made an appearance in Prakash Jha's film Raajneeti in 2010. On her role in Rajneeti, she said in an interview that "I am hoping that my hard-hitting role in Rajneeti will change my being typecast, because it is the most unlikely character one would expect me to play".

Between 2012 to 2013, Seth earned praises for two television shows The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir and Baalveer; She first played a single mother to twins in The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir, and then played Rani Pari in Baalveer, replacing Karishma Tanna.

Streaming series and further work (2020-present) Seth ventured into streaming series with the 2020 series The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye, portraying Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. She then appeared in such series as Mentalhood (2020), Bloody Brothers (2022), Kaala (2023), Dil Dosti Dilemma (2024), 36 days (2024) and Zindaginama (2024). The series Mentalhood revolved around different natures of mothers and showcases how they try their best to raise their children, where Seth played a prominent role.Karishma Kapoor to make her digital debut with Ekta Kapoor's new series titled 'Mentalhood' India Today Retrieved 29 August 2021 Reviewing 36 Days, where she was paired opposite Purab Kohli, Riya Sharma from DNA noted, "Purab Kohli and Shruti Seth impress with their performance as a couple with trust issues and problems."

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2003 Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II Barista member Special appearance 2006 Fanaa Fatima "Fatty" Ali 2007 Ta Ra Rum Pum Sasha 2008 Slumdog Millionaire Call Center Instructor 2009 Anubhav Antara Aagey Se Right Suhasi Mathur 2010 Rajneeti Party worker 2011 My Friend Pinto Suhani Sharma 2019 Kadakh Alka 2026

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2001 Ssshhhh...Koi Hai Anjali Episode: "Khel Khel Mein" 2001–2002 Maan Khuswant "Khushi" Kaur Maan 2002 Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand 2002–2004 Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr Ramya 2003–2006 Shararat Jiya Malhotra 2003 Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai Host 2005 Mum Tum Aur Hum 2007–2008 Comedy Circus 2008 Dhak Dhak In Dubai Sheetal Patel Bollywood Club -- Kismat Ka Konnection Host 2009 Choo Lo Asmaan Mallika-E-Kitchen Comedy Circus 20 – 20 2010 Rishta.com Isha Mirchandani 2012 Kahani Comedy Circus Ki Host 2012–2013 The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir Priti Jaiswal 2013 Baalveer Rani Pari Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe Host 2013–2014 Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali 2015 The Great Indian Family Drama Various characters 2015–2017 Comedy Nights Bachao Herself 2017 TV Biwi Aur Main Priya Rajeev Gupta 2019 Jestination Unknown Herself Apna News Ayega Various characters 2020 Dil Jaise Dhadke... Dhadakne Do Bhavini Mishra

Web series Year Title Role Notes Ref.2020 The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan Mentalhood Diksha Shah 2022 Bloody Brothers Priya Grover 2023 Kaala Malini 2024 Dil Dosti Dilemma Arshiya Khalid 36 days Radhika Jaykar Zindaginama Dr. Pavitra Episode: "Purple Duniya"

References

External links