In 2012, Shukla appeared as District Collector Shivraj Shekhar, opposite Pratyusha Banerjee and Toral Rasputra in Balika Vadhu. Shukla with Varun Dhawan (left) and Alia Bhatt (centre) during Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania promotions After winning the title, he appeared in advertisements for Bajaj Avenger, ICICI and Digjam. In 2005, he represented India at the World's Best Model contest held in Turkey, and became the first Indian, as well as the first Asian, to win the title beating 40 contestants from across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. He appeared in a video "Resham Ka Rumal" sung by Ila Arun. In 2004, Shukla was runner-up in the Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest. After completing bachelor's degree in interior design, Shukla worked in an interior designing firm for a couple of years. He played against Italian football club, AC Milan’s under-19 team, on their Mumbai visit as part of Festa Italiana. Shukla has described himself as a very athletic child, and represented his school in tennis and football. Xavier's High School, Fort, Mumbai and holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Rachana Sansad School of Interior Design. He lost his father because of a lung disease during his modelling days. Sidharth Shukla was born on 12 December 1980 into a Hindu Brahmin family in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) to Ashok Shukla, a civil engineer employed at the Reserve Bank of India and Rita Shukla, a homemaker.
Life and career 1980–2007: Early life and career beginnings