30 Best Anushka Shetty Movies And Where To Watch Them

An enduring star of Tamil and Telugu movies since the 2000s, Anushka Shetty found pan-Indian fame portraying the warrior queen Devasena in the Baahubali franchise. But Shetty’s diverse filmography goes much beyond the blockbuster series.

What are the best Anushka Shetty movies to watch?

Anushka Shetty has appeared in a string of blockbusters since the 2000s, starring opposite Telugu heroes like Nagarjuna (Ragada), Ravi Teja (Vikramarkudu), and Prabhas (Billa) and Tamil stars like Suriya (Singam series) and Thalapathy Vijay (Vettaikaran). As entertaining as these movies are, a lot of Shetty’s mid-2010s and current work is more character-driven and features strong female protagonists. These are the best Anushka Shetty movies that you can get started with.

For starters, there is the SS Rajamouli-directed Baahubali franchise. The two period epics recount the political conspiracies and military battles in the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati. Shetty played the valiant queen Devasena who is shown to be captured and imprisoned in the first movie. But it’s the second installment (Baahubali 2: The Conclusion) that offers more backstory to her character, allowing Shetty to shine in the action sequences.

Another period drama that allows Shetty to shine on her own is the acclaimed Rudhramadevi. Winning the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress, Shetty played the medieval queen Rudrama Devi, one of the few female monarchs in Indian history.

Some of Shetty’s best movies are the ones in which she plays multiple characters. A prominent example is the 2009 horror fantasy Arundhati which starred her as a woman who discovers the mysterious past of her great-grandmother (also played by Shetty). But when a dark arts magician goes after her, both the protagonist and her ancestor must come together. Another interesting double-role film is Bhaagamathie. The 2019 horror comedy finds Shetty playing a disgruntled government officer and the spirit of a queen that haunts her new home.

Even when Shetty doesn’t get top-billing, she shines in some serious and dramatic roles. For instance, her performance was quite impactful in the Vikram-led human drama  Deiva Thirumagal. While Vikram played a man coping with a learning disability, Shetty played a lawyer who helps him to regain custody over his estranged daughter.

Straying away from action, horror, and drama, Shetty can also shine in light-hearted roles. Some must-watch options include the romantic-comedy Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty in which she shared on-screen chemistry with stand-up comedian Naveen Polishetty. The actress also shone in Size Zero, a comedy on the body standards of women.

With Anushka Shetty still reigning as one of South’s highest-earning actresses, there’s still a lot of future potential for more hit projects.

Why is Baahubali 2: The Conclusion the best Anushka Shetty movie to watch?

The second Baahubali film increased the scope of its predecessor and brought out some interesting and emotional character-driven backstories. Anushka Shetty’s on-screen chemistry with Prabhas as Mahishmati’s rightful rulers added a lot of extra depth to the plot. As for the action, director SS Rajamouli raised the stakes to bigger and better levels. 

To know more about the actress’ best movies and where to stream them, have a glance at our streaming guide to the best Anushka Shetty movies.