After nearly ten years in the Hindi film world, Athiya Shetty has decided to bid farewell to Bollywood, choosing to retreat from the spotlight to dedicate more time to her daughter and embrace motherhood fully. Though her career was relatively brief, it was marked by steady growth, versatility, and poise.
Athiya Shetty Steps Away from Bollywood
The announcement was confirmed by her father and veteran actor Suniel Shetty, who revealed, “She told me, ‘Baba, I don’t want to do this anymore,’ and just walked away. I really admire her for that — standing firm on what she wants. After Motichoor Chaknachoor, many opportunities came her way, but she said, ‘I’m comfortable where I am.’” He further explained that Athiya’s decision to step back was motivated by her wish to live a more private life and focus on motherhood.
A Look Back at Athiya Shetty’s Career
Athiya debuted in 2015 with Hero, a Salman Khan-produced film, where she portrayed Radha Mathur — a police officer’s daughter who falls for her kidnapper, played by Sooraj Pancholi. The film received mixed reviews but gained attention with the soulful track O Khuda, which became a youth favorite.
In 2017, she embraced comedy in Anees Bazmee’s Mubarakan, playing Binkle Sandhu, a traditional Punjabi girl caught in a humorous love triangle. The movie performed well commercially, giving Athiya a chance to showcase her comic skills alongside industry veterans like Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor.
Her most critically praised performance came in 2019 with Motichoor Chaknachoor, where she played Anita Awasthi, a small-town girl dreaming of moving abroad. Opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Athiya delivered a sincere and restrained portrayal that, despite the film’s lukewarm box office response, won her critical appreciation.
Apart from acting, Athiya appeared in the popular dance track Tere Naal Nachna in 2018, produced by Bhushan Kumar, where her confident presence and graceful moves further increased her appeal.
Though her filmography is selective and limited, Athiya Shetty established herself with elegance and dignity. As she now steps away from acting, she leaves behind a memorable legacy defined by meaningful roles, iconic songs, and a graceful exit from the Bollywood scene.
