Mahesh Babu's relative had taken a hairdressing course and worked at salon after quitting acting. Today, her net-worth will make your jaw drop

Shilpa Shirodkar was one of the well-known faces on the big screens, appearing opposite stars such as Anil Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, etc. However, she bid adieu to films after her marriage to a UK-based banker, Aparesh Ranjit, in 2000 and took a 13-year hiatus from showbiz.

In a candid chat with Film Window, the actress opened up about her time away from films and also expressed gratitude towards her husband for making sacrifices for her.

“He has always told me that the sacrifices I made for him, despite coming from the position you had, are commendable. But I give him full credit. When I returned to India in 2009 after my parents passed away, I was emotionally gone. He left his rising career for me and said, ‘I think we need to go back home.’ So we left everything and came back to India, “ she said.

“I think he needs credit for that. There are very few men who would leave everything behind for their wives. I think behind every successful woman there’s an understanding and very wonderful man, who leaves male ego aside and walks by her side,” she explained.

Reflecting on her time away from films, she said, “I feel those 13 years were a learning phase of my life, and it was a very beautiful experience. I think the bond I share with my daughter today might not have existed if I hadn’t taken that step. Living outside India is very tough—it made me very strong.”

In an interview with Gauahar Khan, Shilpa revealed she had a stint as a hairdresser while she lived in New Zealand. “To keep myself busy, I did a hairdressing course in New Zealand. It was something close to my acting career—with makeup and all that. After the course, I worked in a salon for two months," she said.

Shilpa Shirodkar is the sister of Namrata Shirodkar, who is also an actress. She is married to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.

Shilpa has been part of films such as ‘Hum,’ ‘Kishen Kanhaiya,’ ‘Aankhen,’ ‘Khuda Gawah,’ etc. As per a Business Standard report, she has a net worth of a whopping Rs 237 crore.