Shama Sikander

• Name — Shama Sikander • Birthplace — Makrana, Rajasthan, India • Education — Roshan Taneja School of Acting • Occupation — Actress, Producer • Years Active — 1998–2021

Shama Sikander was born on August 4, 1981 in Makrana, Rajasthan. Her family moved to Mumbai, Maharashtra in 1991 and struggled financially while she was growing up. She attended multiple schools in Makrana and Mumbai for her primary and secondary education. She trained at Roshan Taneja School of Acting in Mumbai. Sikandar has three siblings.

Sikander began her acting career with minor roles in Prem Aggan (1998) and Mann (1999). She later appeared in Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002), and Yeh Mohabbat Hai (2002). Sikander first gained prominence while portraying as Pooja Mehta in the coming-of-age dramaYe Meri Life Hai from 2003 to 2005. Her performance earned her a Gold Award for “Critics' Choice: Best Actress" in 2005, and two Indian Television Academy Awards—"GR8! Face of the Year" and "Best Debut" (2004). In 2005, she appeared in Chand Bujh Gaya, Faaiz Anwar's film based on the Godhra train burning; Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially refused to grant exhibition certification for the film’s release and only complied after Bombay High Court ruled that the certification body was infringing on the constitutional rights of the filmmaker. Sikander made guest appearances on several television shows, including Batliwala House No. 43 (2005), CID (2006), Jodee Kamaal Ki (2007), Kaajjal (2008), and Man Mein Hai Visshwas (2009). She also hosted a season of Zoom's Popkorn Newz (2007) and STAR One’s Jet Set Go (2008) before returning to film with a supporting role in Dhoom Dadakka (2008). In 2010, Sikander launched her own fashion label “Saisha”. In 2011, she played the protagonist in Yash Raj Films’ supernatural thriller Seven; the show was cancelled after one season. Between 2012 and 2014, she was the lead antagonist in SAB TV’s Baal Veer. She was a celebrity contestant and performer on Jjhoom India (2007), Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena (2008), alongside notable Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli, and Boogie Woogie. In March 2016, Sikander appeared in the short film Sexaholic. In early 2017, she played the titular role in director Vikram Bhatt’s webseries Maaya. In December 2017, she started her own production company and announced Ab Dil Ki Sunn (2018), a webseries comprising seven short films inspired by her own experience of living with mental illnesses. In 2019, Sikander was seen in Bypass Road (2019). In March 2021, Sikander appeared in the music video for Hawa Karda by Koinage Records.

Sikandar is multilingual and speaks Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi and Marwadi. She has been open about her experience of living with depression and bipolar disorder. Sikandar was in a relationship with actor and musician Alexx O'Nell from 2011 to 2015. She met businessman James Milliron in 2015. The couple lived together for 8 years and got married on March 14, 2022.

• Year — Show — Role — Channel — Notes • 2003–2005 — Yeh Meri Life Hai — Pooja — Sony TV • 2005 — Batliwala House No. 43 — Herself — 1 episode • 2006 — C.I.D. — Minakshi — 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 • 2009 — Man Mein Hai Visshwas — Rukhsana — 1 episode • 2010–2011 — Seven — Shunyaa • 2012–2014 — Baal Veer — Bhali Pari/Bhayankar Pari — SAB TV

• Year — Title — Channel • 2008 — Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena — Colors (TV channel) • Jet Set Go — STAR One • 2010 — Jjhoom India — Sahara One • Boogie Woogie — Sony TV

• Year — Title — Role — Channel — Notes • 2017 — Maaya — Maaya — YouTube — Marseille Web Fest Official Selection 2017 • 2018 — Ab Dil Ki Sunn — YouTube — Also producer

• Year — Song title — Album — Ref. • 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