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Shama Sikander Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 August 1981

Age42 Years

BirthplaceMakrana, Rajasthan

ProfessionActress, Model

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseJames Milliron

FamilyFather - Sikander Gesawat; Mother - Gulshan; Siblings - Khalid Sikander, Rizwan Sikander, Salma Sikander

Shama Sikander Biography

Indian actress and model Shama Sikander rose to prominence with her television role as Pooja in Yeh Meri Life Hai. Over two decades she has worked across fi

Early life and background

Shama Sikander Gesawat was born on 4 August 1981 in Makrana, Rajasthan. She grew up in a family where her father worked as a marble supplier and her mother was a homemaker. Sikander attended numerous schools during her childhood and later pursued training in acting at the Roshan Taneja School of Acting in Mumbai, where she completed her studies in 1995.

Career

Shama began her career in entertainment as a teenager, making her film debut at about sixteen. Her early screen appearances included roles in Bollywood films through the late 1990s and 2000s. She is best known for playing the character Pooja on the television series Yeh Meri Life Hai, which ran from 2003 to 2005 and brought her widespread recognition. Prior to and following that breakthrough she also appeared in a variety of television programs, episodic series and reality shows.

Across film and television, Sikander’s credits include appearances in titles such as Mann, Ansh: The Deadly Part, Dhoom Dadakka, Contract, and the 2019 thriller Bypass Road. On television she has been seen in shows including C.I.D., Jodee Kamaal Ki, Kaajjal, Seven and Baal Veer. She has participated in reality formats as well, contesting on dance and celebrity series and hosting the travel-reality program Jet Set Go in 2008.

From the mid-2010s Sikander expanded into digital and independent projects. In 2016 she acted in the web series Maaya, which earned a selection nod for Marseille Web Fest in 2017, and appeared in the short film Sexaholic. She later produced and starred in a seven-episode YouTube series titled Ab Dil Ki Sunn through her own production company, Shama Sikander Films Pvt. Ltd. The series addressed topics such as bipolar disorder and depression and was presented by Sikander as inspired by aspects of her own life.

Beyond screen acting she launched a fashion label called Saisha in Mumbai in December 2010, a store whose opening was attended by Sushmita Sen.

Awards and recognition

Sikander’s performances and public profile have been recognized through a number of awards. Early in her television career she received honors including GR8 Face of the Year and Best Debut at the Indian Television Academy Awards. She has also been acknowledged with Critics’ Choice: Best Actress at the Lions Gold Awards and other accolades over the years, including fitness and style awards in the late 2010s.

Public profile

Physical attributes frequently cited in public profiles list her height around 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) and weight near 60 kg. Her public image has often focused on glamour and style; she has spoken about preferring to portray herself as sensuous rather than vulgar and has addressed public commentary about her changing appearance. Sikander is a fitness enthusiast who shares workout images, and she is an avid dog lover active on social media.

Personal life

Shama Sikander married James Milliron, an American businessman, on 14 March 2022 in Goa. The couple had been in a long-term relationship; they began dating in 2015 and became engaged the same year. Sikander has spoken openly about mental health challenges, including episodes of depression and bipolar disorder, and has described coming through those periods as a significant personal achievement. She has discussed attempting suicide during a low point and later used her work to explore related themes.

Latest updates

In recent years Sikander has remained visible through select film and web projects, music videos, and her own productions. She appeared in the 2019 film Bypass Road and continued releasing music video work up to 2021. On World Mental Health Day in October 2023 she posted about ongoing recovery and the importance of mental-health awareness.
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Recent Work

Bypass Road

Feature film appearance

2019
Hawa Karda (music video)

Music video release

2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Television breakthrough as Pooja in Yeh Meri Life Hai (2003–2005)
  2. Film debut in late 1990s and subsequent roles across Bollywood films
  3. Produced and starred in YouTube series Ab Dil Ki Sunn addressing mental health topics
  4. Launched fashion label Saisha in 2010
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shama Sikander born?

4 August 1981

What is Shama Sikander known for?

Actress, Model

What is Shama Sikander’s marital status?

Married

Who is Shama Sikander married to?

James Milliron