Rakshitha Shetty is one of the most talked about new names to come out of the Kannada digital and reality television space in recent times. She built her early fame as a social media content creator celebrating Tulu culture and coastal Karnataka traditions, and then went on to become one of the most memorable contestants of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12. Her journey, from a dramatic first day elimination to finishing as the first runner-up of the season, has made her a household name across Karnataka. In this article, we will look at Rakshitha Shetty age, family, education, career and more, in a simple and easy to follow way.
Who is Rakshitha Shetty
Rakshitha Shetty is an Indian social media influencer and content creator, best known online through her Instagram handle rakshita_tulu_talks. She built a loyal following by sharing short cooking and lifestyle videos centred around Tulu culture, coastal Karnataka recipes and regional traditions. In 2025, she entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 as a contestant, and despite a shaky start, her journey through the show turned her into one of the most popular and widely discussed personalities to come out of the season, eventually finishing as the first runner-up.
Rakshitha Shetty Age
Most consistent public sources indicate that Rakshitha Shetty was born on 20 March 2000, which would make her 26 years old as of 2026. A small number of sources mention a different birth year, but the 20 March 2000 date appears far more frequently and consistently across available information, so it is the more reliable figure to go with.
Rakshitha Shetty Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Rakshitha Shetty has a natural and relatable on camera presence, which has played a big role in the success of her content creation career. Exact figures for her height and weight are not officially confirmed in reliable public sources, so it is best not to treat any specific numbers found online as verified facts. What comes through consistently, both in her videos and during her time on Bigg Boss, is her confident and expressive personality.
Rakshitha Shetty Family and Education
Rakshitha Shetty was born in Padubidri, a town in Udupi district, Karnataka, and belongs to the Bunt community of coastal Karnataka. While her roots are in Padubidri, where her family home is located, she was largely raised in Mumbai, where her parents live. She later moved to Bangalore to pursue her studies and to build her career in content creation.
For her education, she completed her schooling at St. Aloysius High School in Nallasopara and is reported to have studied Bachelor of Commerce at Vartak College in Vasai, with some sources also mentioning that she pursued a degree in Multimedia and Mass Communication in Bangalore. During her eleventh standard, she reportedly worked at a call centre, earning close to eighteen to nineteen thousand rupees a month, an experience she has spoken about as an example of her early confidence and independence.
Rakshitha Shetty Career
Rakshitha Shetty’s career began away from television, in the world of short form social media content. She started making videos during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when, like many others, she found herself at home with a lot of free time. Her early videos were simple and unpolished, focusing on cooking, her hometown, and everyday reflections, but they struck a chord with viewers, particularly those from coastal Karnataka who related strongly to her content. Over time, her focus on Tulu language, local festivals and traditional recipes helped her build a genuine and loyal fan base under the handle rakshita_tulu_talks.
Her biggest career turning point came in 2025, when she entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 under a special format built around singles, pairs and outsiders. In a dramatic start, she was eliminated on the very first day of the show, becoming the first contestant to leave the house that season. Her sudden exit surprised fans and led to a wave of protests and trending hashtags on social media, as many felt she had not been given a fair chance to show her personality. Responding to this strong public reaction, the show’s makers brought her back into the house on Day 6.
From her re-entry onward, Rakshitha focused on showing her authentic self, building relationships with fellow contestants and taking an active part in tasks. Her gameplay was not without criticism, and her intense and sometimes possessive approach was questioned by other contestants and occasionally addressed by host Kiccha Sudeep during weekend episodes. Despite this, her honesty, emotional maturity and grounded nature won over a large section of the audience, and she went on to reach the grand finale, finishing as the first runner-up of the season, narrowly losing the title to Gilli Nata. Along with the runner-up position, she received prize money worth around twenty-five lakh rupees, combining twenty lakh rupees announced by Shree Sai Gold Palace and an additional five lakh rupees from the Jar App. Since the show, she has continued to build on her popularity through brand collaborations, public events and media appearances.
Rakshitha Shetty Relationship Status
Rakshitha Shetty is currently unmarried and has not publicly confirmed being in any relationship. She tends to keep her personal life private and has not spoken in detail about her relationship status in interviews or on social media, choosing instead to keep the focus on her career and content.
Rakshitha Shetty Net Worth
Rakshitha Shetty’s net worth is not officially confirmed, but estimates place it in the range of thirty to eighty lakh Indian rupees as of 2026. Her income mainly comes from her content creation work, brand collaborations, and the prize money and opportunities that followed her strong run on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12. As her popularity continues to grow following the show, this figure is expected to increase further.
Controversy
Rakshitha Shetty’s most talked about moment of controversy came right at the start of her Bigg Boss Kannada journey, when she was unexpectedly eliminated on Day 1, a decision that upset a large number of fans and led to significant public backlash before her re-entry into the house. During the show, she also faced criticism for her intense and possessive approach in certain relationships and tasks, which was pointed out by other contestants and by host Kiccha Sudeep. She was also involved in a nomination related disagreement with fellow contestant Rashika Shetty, where she questioned the other contestant’s independence, sparking some debate among viewers. Outside of the show, she has also faced some online criticism in the past regarding her Kannada language skills, given her upbringing outside Karnataka, though this did not stop her from building a strong and loyal fan base.
Lifestyle
Rakshitha Shetty leads a lifestyle closely tied to her love for coastal Karnataka culture, food and traditions, even though she grew up away from the region in Mumbai. Cooking, particularly traditional Tulu recipes, remains a central part of her content and personal identity. Her time on Bigg Boss also brought her into the spotlight of a more public, media facing lifestyle, and since the show, she has been balancing content creation with public appearances and brand related commitments.
Rakshitha Shetty Social Media
Rakshitha Shetty is highly active on social media, particularly Instagram, where she posts under the handle rakshita_tulu_talks. Her content, centred on Tulu culture, coastal recipes and everyday life, has helped her build a loyal and engaged following. Her visibility grew significantly after her run on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12, and she has continued to use her platform actively since then to connect with her expanding fan base.
Lesser Known Facts
- She started her content creation journey during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, almost by accident.
- She worked at a call centre during her eleventh standard, earning close to eighteen to nineteen thousand rupees a month.
- Although her roots are in Padubidri, Udupi, she was largely raised in Mumbai.
- She was the first contestant to be eliminated from Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12, on Day 1, before being brought back due to public demand.
- She finished the season as the first runner-up, narrowly missing the winner’s trophy.
- She belongs to the Bunt community of coastal Karnataka.
Conclusion
Rakshitha Shetty’s story is a strong example of how genuine, relatable content can build a devoted fan base, and how that fan base can, in turn, shape the course of a reality show. From cooking simple Tulu recipes during a lockdown to becoming one of the most talked about and loved contestants on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12, her journey reflects resilience, authenticity and strong public connection. With her growing popularity after the show, Rakshitha Shetty looks set to remain an important name in Kannada digital and entertainment spaces in the coming years.
FAQs
Who is Rakshitha Shetty?
Rakshitha Shetty is an Indian social media influencer and content creator, best known for her Tulu culture based content and for finishing as the first runner-up of Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12.
How old is Rakshitha Shetty?
According to the most consistently reported information, she was born on 20 March 2000, making her 26 years old as of 2026.
Where is Rakshitha Shetty from?
She was born in Padubidri, Udupi district, Karnataka, though she was largely raised in Mumbai.
What is Rakshitha Shetty known for on social media?
She is known for her Instagram content under the handle rakshita_tulu_talks, focused on Tulu culture, coastal Karnataka cooking and regional traditions.
How did Rakshitha Shetty perform on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12?
She was eliminated on Day 1 but was brought back into the house on Day 6 due to strong public demand, and she went on to finish as the first runner-up of the season.
Is Rakshitha Shetty married?
No, she is currently unmarried and has not publicly confirmed being in a relationship.
What is Rakshitha Shetty’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated to be in the range of thirty to eighty lakh Indian rupees as of 2026.
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