Nihalani signed him for Waqt Hamara Hai along with Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Jhulka and Mamta Kulkarni. However, his first release was Raju Mavani's Balwaan (Divya Bharti), a typical action masala potboiler. Though Shetty didn't receive any encouraging reviews, the film met with a decent response at the BO.

Boosted with an impressive physique, action became his forte and most of his films like Waqt Hamara Hai, Hum Hain Bemisaal, Pehchaan fared reasonably.

The media took notice when he delivered a chain of hits Anth, Gopi Kishen, Dilwale and Mohra. There was a remarkable improvement in his screen presence. Also, his sincerity towards his work began to be noticed.

Soon followed a series of disasters -- Takkar, Sapoot, Suraksha, Shastra, Vishwasghat, Krishna and Rakshak. Luckily they all had hit songs (Oh Paro, Jhanjariya, Sundara sundara and Shaher ki ladki) which featured Shetty prominently.

J P Dutta's Border was a godsend. Shetty's performance won raves.

Filmmakers like Gulzar, Ram Gopal Varma, Priyadarshan and Dharmesh Darshan signed him on in Hu Tu Tu, Jungle, Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar, and Dhadkan respectively. And though he earned respect as an actor for doing meaningful roles, he continued to act in action films like Vinashak, Prithvi, Aakrosh, Krodh, Officer, Itefaq, Awaara Paagal Deewana.

Shetty, the man, has always maintained a clean record sans controversy. He maintains his reputation of a happy married family man, with wife Manna and kids Athiya and Ahaan.

With films like Sanjay Gupta’s Kaante, Harry Baweja’s Karz and Qayamat, Tinnu Anand’s Ek Hindustani, Kundan Shah's Kasam Se and J P Dutta's LoC in hand, a production company Popcorn Entertainment and upcoming theme restaurants, Shetty is doing exceptionally well both in his professional as well as personal life.

He is our star of the week.

Also Read:
Last week's star: Kareena Kapoor