Shakeela was born in a poor Muslim family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on November 19, 1973. She had a difficult childhood, as her father was an alcoholic and abusive, and her mother struggled to make ends meet. And She dropped out of school after the seventh grade and started working as a domestic helper. She ran away from home at the age of 16 and joined a theatre group, where she met actor and director Silk Smitha, who became her mentor and introduced her to the film industry.
Songs
Shakeela also showcased her musical talent in some of her films. She sang and composed songs for the Malayalam film “Kinnarathumbikal”, which became a cult hit. She also sang for the Telugu film “Yamaho Yama” and the Kannada film “Hosa Jeevana”. Some of her popular songs are “Oru Raathri Koodi”, “Chilamboli Katte”, “Yamaho Yama” and “Hosa Jeevana”.
- “Kannukkullae Unnai Vaithen” from the Tamil film “Chinna Chinna Aasaigal” (1999).
- “Kondaiyil Thazhampoo” from the Malayalam film “Kinnarathumbikal” (2000).
- “Aaiye Meherbaan” from the Hindi film “Khiladi 420” (2000).
These songs showcase her versatility as an artist and her ability to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Movies
Shakeela’s filmography is extensive, spanning multiple languages and genres. While she became a sensation in the adult film industry, she also worked in mainstream cinema. Some of her notable movies include:
“Kinnarathumbikal” (2000) – This Malayalam film catapulted Shakeela to stardom and became a cult classic.
“Reshma” (2002) – A Tamil film that showcased her acting prowess beyond the boundaries of adult cinema.
“Dil Fek Aashiq” (2015) – Shakeela made a comeback to mainstream cinema with this Hindi film.
Shakeela made her debut in the 1991 Tamil film “Playgirls”, where she played a supporting role alongside Silk Smitha. She soon became a sought-after actress in the low-budget film circuit, especially in the South Indian languages of Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Also played the lead role in many erotic thrillers, such as “Kinnarathumbikal”, “Thazhvara”, “Kameshwari”, “Rathinirvedam” and “Miss Shilpa”. Also acted in some comedy and horror films, such as “Ee Bhargavi Nilayam”, “Chinthamani Kolacase” and “Seema Tapakai”. She earned a huge fan following among the masses for her voluptuous figure and daring scenes.
Shakeela decided to quit acting in 2003, after she felt that she had lost respect and dignity in the industry. She moved to Dubai and started a garments business. Also got married to a businessman, but the marriage ended in divorce after a few years. She returned to India in 2011 and resumed acting, but in different roles. She played character roles in films like “Tevar”, “Rajkahini” and “Oru Melliya Kodu”. Also produced and directed a Malayalam film called “Neelakurinji Poothu” in 2016.
Family
Shakeela has a large family, consisting of her mother, four brothers and two sisters. Her mother is her biggest support system, who always stood by her side. Her brothers are also involved in the film industry, as actors or technicians. Sisters are married and settled in different places. Shakeela is very close to her nieces and nephews, whom she considers as her own children.
