From ‘Saugandh’ to ‘Badgirl’: Shanti Priya’s Journey and New Look

Shanti Priya, the actress who starred alongside Akshay Kumar in the 1991 film ‘Saugandh,’ is making headlines again. Now, at 55, she is set to star in the movie ‘Badgirl’, directed by Varsha Bharat, with Anurag Kashyap as the producer. ‘Badgirl’ will be released on September 5. Her career began in Tamil and Telugu cinema, and she then transitioned to Bollywood with ‘Saugandh.’ The movie, though not a box office hit, had popular songs. She has also been in Hindi films like ‘Phool Aur Angaar,’ ‘Meherbaan,’ ‘Veerta,’ and ‘Sajna Saath Nibhana.’ Over 35 years in the industry, Shanti Priya’s appearance has changed dramatically. She recently made a bold statement by shaving her head, a move she explained was to defy traditional beauty standards and free herself from societal pressures. She shared the photos on social media, which gained a lot of attention. Her hair has grown back now, and she is currently seen with a boycut hairstyle. In 1999, Shanti Priya married Siddharth Ray, who acted in ‘Baazigar’ with Shahrukh Khan. Siddharth Ray passed away in 2004. Since then, she has raised her two children, Shishya Ray and Shubham Ray, as a single mother. Shanti Priya remains active in the film industry and has a string of successful Tamil and Telugu films to her credit, with more projects anticipated in the future.