# Shama Sikander

Shama Sikander Ali Gesawat is an Indian actress and fashion designer, known for her roles in television series, films, and web series. She gained recognition for her portrayal of Pooja Mehta in the popular television show Yeh Meri Life Hai (2003–2005). Over the years, she has appeared in several Bollywood films, short films, and web series, including Sexaholic (2016) and Maaya: Slave of Her Desires (2017).

## Early life

Shama Sikander was born in Makrana, India, to Gulshan and Sikander Ali Gesawat. When she was 9, her family moved to Mumbai, Maharashtra. She has three siblings: Khalid, Rizwan, and Salma Sikander. During an interview, Sikander mentioned that her early years in Mumbai were challenging, with financial difficulties often affecting her family. She attended multiple schools in Makrana and Mumbai. In 1995, she enrolled in the Roshan Taneja School of Acting, where she completed her acting training.

## Career

Sikander began her acting career with small roles in Prem Aggan (1998) and Mann (1999) before landing a supporting role in Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002). Her first major role on television was as the title character "Pooja Mehta" in the popular Sony TV drama Ye Meri Life Hai (2003–2005). The performance earned her numerous nominations and awards, including the 12th Annual Lion's Gold Awards' Critics' Choice "Best Actress" (2005), Indian Television Academy Awards' "GR8! Face of the Year" (2004), and "Best Debut" (2004). Sikander subsequently anchored Popkorn Newz (2007) and Jet Set Go (2008) before returning to film with the lead role of "Jiya" in Dhoom Dadakka (2008). She subsequently appeared in the lead role of "Shunyaa" on the supernatural thriller TV series Seven (2010–2011) produced by Bollywood film studio Yash Raj Films. She was seen as "Byankar Pari", the lead antagonist in the children's program Baal Veer (2012–2014) on SAB TV.
While working to establish herself in Mumbai's Bollywood industry, Sikander travelled hours daily, from the outskirts of the city to attend auditions, often accompanied by her brother, Rizwan Sikander, also an actor.
Her film debut came at the age of 16 in 1998, with the Hindi-language feature film Prem Aggan, produced and directed by acclaimed film personality Feroz Khan. Despite significant hype, the film, which also featured Feroz Khan's son Fardeen Khan's debut, was both a critical and box office failure.
A year later, Sikander appeared in the Indra Kumar film Mann (1999) in a cameo as Kamini. The film received mixed reviews and fared poorly at the box office.
Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002) was Sikander's first supporting role in a Hindi-language feature film. Portraying the character Kusum opposite south Indian actor Abbas, the film produced by Rukamanee Arts was a box office success, doing reasonably well and garnering generally favourable reviews. Despite Ansh being her best-faring feature film so far, Sikander would not have another big screen release for the next six years.

### Actor (2003–2021)

Though her feature films failed to establish Sikander as a box office success, her Television debut, portraying the title character "Pooja Metha" in the popular Sony TV drama Ye Meri Life Hai (2003–2005), made the show a household name overnight, gave her "instant fame", and eventually elevated her to "one of the most loved faces on Indian television." Her performance earned her numerous nominations and awards, including The Indian Television Academy Awards' "GR8 Face of the Year" (2004), The Indian Television Academy Awards' "Best Debut" (2004), The 12th Annual Lion's Gold Awards' "Best Actress: Critics' Choice" (2005), and Sony TV's "Best Face" (2005). The same year she was seen in the lead role in Chand Bujh Gaya, a film on the Godhra train burning and 2002 Gujarat riots, which was initially refused certification by CBFC and FCAT and could be released only after the producers approached the Bombay High Court.
Fueled by the success of Ye Meri Life Hai and her subsequent performances, Sikander made frequent guest appearances on various popular programs, including Batliwala House No. 43 (2005), CID (2006), Jodee Kamaal Ki (2007), Kaajjal (2008), and Man Mein Hai Visshwas (2009).
Beginning in 2007, Sikander also featured as a TV program host, first on entertainment channel Zoom's Popkorn Newz for a single season and then in 2008 as the host of the STAR One travel contest program Jet Set Go. An accomplished self-taught dancer and amateur singer, Sikander appeared on numerous programs, including the celebrity dance program Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena as a celebrity contestant alongside notable Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli. She joined the singing reality program Jjhoom India as a celebrity contestant, as well as India's longest running dance program Boogie Woogie as a celebrity guest performer in 2010 and subsequently on multiple occasions as a performer and as a guest judge. Her ability to showcase well in singing, dancing, hosting, and acting caused critics to comment on her versatility as a performer. While her TV career flourished, Sikander returned to film in 2008 with a supporting role in director Shashi Ranjan's Dhoom Dhadaka alongside notable Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher, Gulshan Grover, and Satish Kaushik. The film was a box office failure.
2010 saw Sikander return to a lead role in a television series for the first time since leaving Ye Meri Life Hai in 2005. Sikander's Shunyaa featured as the central character in the supernatural thriller series Seven (2010–2011), produced by Yash Raj Films. Sikander's performance and the program were widely appreciated. Seven experienced niche viewership and was eventually brought to a close after only one season of 26 episodes.
After a short break Sikander took the role of the main antagonist, Byankar Pari, in the young-adult fantasy program Baal Veer starting in September 2012. Baal Veer is one of the channel's highest-rated programs. Sikander quit the show in 2014.
In March 2016, Sikander featured in the short film Sexaholic.
In early 2017, Sikander was featured in the title role of Maaya in Maaya: Slave of Her Desires directed by Vikram Bhatt. The miniseries is frequently cited as among the best produced in India till date.
In December 2017, Sikander announced Ab Dil Ki Sunn, the maiden project of her home production in which she also plays the lead role. Inspired by her own life incidents, Ab Dil Ki Sunn features 7 short films based on different human aspects such as bipolar disorder, depression, and other social and emotional complexities, distributed exclusively on YouTube. Ab Dil Ki Sunn launched on YouTube in early 2018.
Sikander's return to the theaters came with the November 1st, 2019 release of the mainstream Bollywood thriller Bypass Road.

### Designer (2010–2021)

In addition to acting, Sikander launched her fashion label Saisha in December 2010. The brand, based in Mumbai, has showcased collections both domestically and internationally. Sikander has appeared on the runway wearing her own designs at various fashion events.

### Film, music and music video producer (2012-2021)

In late 2017, Sikander incorporated the Film and TV production company Shama Sikander Films Pvt. Ltd., best known for the short film series Ab Dil Ki Sunn. In March 2021, Shama Sikander appeared in the music video, Hawa Karda by Koinage Records.

## In the media

Sikander's sex appeal has been picked up on by many sources, focusing on her fitness regimen, diet and style sense. She has been featured in numerous magazine spreads, including appearing on the cover of GR8! Magazine. Sikander was deemed October 2011's 'Hottie of the Month' by Perfect Woman Magazine.
Sikander's hobbies include the violin, photography, and abstract painting. The actress is also said to be multi-lingual, speaking six languages including Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi and Marwadi.

## Personal life

Sikander has been open about her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, which she discussed in a series of short films produced by her production company, Shama Sikander Films Pvt. Ltd. The films were released under the title Ab Dil Ki Sunn on YouTube.
In 2016, she got engaged to American businessman James Milliron, and the couple married in a Christian ceremony in March 2022.

## Filmography
### Movies

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Prem Aggan | Pooja | |
| 1999 | Mann | Kamini | |
| 2002 | Yeh Mohabbat Hai | | |
| 2002 | Ansh: The Deadly Part | Kusum | |
| 2003 | Basti | | |
| 2008 | Dhoom Dadakka | Jiya | |
| 2008 | Contract | | Special appearances in "Maula Khair Kare" |
| 2016 | Sexaholic | Riya | Short film |
| 2019 | Bypass Road | Sarah | |

### Television

| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 2003–2005 | Yeh Meri Life Hai | Pooja | Sony TV | |
| 2005 | Batliwala House No. 43 | Herself | Sony TV | Celebrity Guest |
| 2006 | C.I.D. | Minakshi | Sony TV | Ep. "Secret of the Code No. 571 E 1115" |
| 2007 | Jodee Kamaal Ki | Herself | Star Plus | Ep. Raksha Bandhan Special |
| 2007 | Popkorn Newz | Herself | Zoom | Host |
| 2008 | Kaajjal | Chameli | Sony TV | Cameo appearance |
| 2009 | Man Mein Hai Visshwas | Rukhsana | Sony TV | Single Episode Appearance |
| 2010–2011 | Seven | Shunyaa | Sony TV | |
| 2012–2014 | Baal Veer | Bhali Pari later changed to Bhayankar Pari | SAB TV | |

### Television: Dance & Reality

| Year | Title | Class | Role | Channel |
| 2008 | Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena | Dance Reality Show | Self (Celebrity Contestant) | Colors (TV channel) |
| 2008 | Jet Set Go | Travel-Contest Reality Show | Self (Host) | STAR One |
| 2010 | Jjhoom India | Singing Reality Show | Self (Celebrity Contestant) | Sahara One |
| 2010 | Boogie Woogie | Dance Reality Show | Self (Celebrity Guest / Judge) *Multiple Appearances | Sony TV |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 2017 | Maaya: Slave of Her Desires | Maaya | VB on the Web | Marseille Web Fest Official Selection 2017 |
| 2018 | Ab Dil Ki Sunn | multiple | YouTube | Producer also |

### Music videos

| Year | Song Title | Album |
| 2001 | Mirza | Lala Lala Lala |
| 2001 | Chann Chaanani Raat | Saaun di jhadi |
| 2002 | Baje Jo Bansi Thama Karo | Tere Bina |
| 2002 | Kabhi Mausam Hua Resham | Tere Bina |
| 2020 | Majnu Remix | N/A |
| 2021 | Hawa Karda | Hawa Karda |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Presenter | Result |
| 2004 | Best Actress in a Lead Role | Indian Telly Awards | Nominated |
| 2004 | Fresh New Face | Indian Telly Awards | Nominated |
| 2004 | GR8 Face of the Year | Indian Television Academy Awards | Won |
| 2004 | Best Debut | Indian Television Academy Awards | Won |
| 2005 | Critics' Choice: Best Actress | 12th Lions Gold Awards | Won |
| 2005 | Best Face | Sony TV | Won |
| 2017 | Official Selection - Maaya | Marseille Web Fest | Nominated |
| 2017 | Fitness Diva | Perfect Achievers Award | Won |
| 2019 | Most Beautiful Woman of the Year | Aspiring She | Won |
| 2019 | Style Icon of the Year | International Quality Awards | Won |
| 2019 | Most Promising Actor | Black Swan Awards, Asia One | Won |