Shama Sikander Gesawat (born August 4, 1981) is an Indian actress and film producer who has appeared in numerous films, music videos and television programs in English, Hindi and various other North Indian and South Indian languages. In addition to acting, Sikander serves as the managing director of Chocolate Box Films India Pvt. Ltd. a Mumbai India based film production company.
Sikander began her career featuring in lead and supporting roles in a number of Hindi-language feature films including Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002 Hindi), Mann (1999 Hindi), and Prem Aggan (1998 Hindi). However, she first gained significant recognition on television 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, her wins including the 12th Annual Lion's Gold Awards' Critics' Choice "Best Actress" (2005), Sony TV's "Best Face" (2005), Indian Television Academy Awards' "GR8! Face of the Year" (2004), and "Best Debut" (2004). Sikander subsequently anchored Popkorn Newz (2007 Hindi) and Jet Set Go (2008) before returning to film with lead role of 'Jiya' in Dhoom Dadakka (2008 Hindi). She subsequently appeared in the lead role of 'Shunyaa' on the supernatural thriller TV series Seven (2010-2011 Hindi) produced by Bollywood juggernaut Yash Raj Films. She is currently seen as 'Byankar Pari', the lead antagonist in the children's program Baal Veer (2012–Present) on SAB TV.
Sikander's production company Chocolate Box Films Pvt. Ltd., founded in late 2012, has yet to announce its first production.
Sikander lives in Mumbai India and is in a relationship with India-based American actor / musician Alexx O'Nell.
Shama Sikander Gesawat was born in Makrana, Rajasthan, India, and is the daughter of Gulshan, a housewife and Sikander Gesawat who was a marble supplier and now practices ayurveda. At the age of 10 her family moved to Mumbai, Maharashtra, where she lived together with her younger siblings, Khalid, Rizwan, and Salma (born 1991). Sikander has mentioned in interviews that her early years in Mumbai were extremely difficult, even commenting that at times “there was no food in the house to feed the family”.
Having moved locations frequently, Sikander attended as many as nine schools in her early life in Makrana and in various parts of Greater Mumbai including Malad, Mumbra, Thane, and Andheri. Following her completion of the 10th grade, and passing the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education examination, Sikander enrolled in the Roshan Taneja School of Acting in Mumbai in 1995, graduating from the course a year later.
As with most Indian celebrities, Sikander's personal life and relationships are often the subject of media attention.
In 2010 Indian gossip columnist Vicky Lalwani linked Sikander to actor Mimoh Chakraborty – a claim both parties denied. Lalwani (and other journalists) also speculated that Sikander was previously in a relationship with Indian businessman Saahil Peerzada, and that she may have even been the reason for his split from his actress girlfriend Gauhar Khan. At the time both denied any relationship. Strangely however, Peerzada later claimed in a 2012 interview that he “was in a serious relationship with Shama”, without disclosing when.
In mid-2011 speculation began regarding Sikander's relationship with India-based American actor / musician Alexx O'Nell. The two were spotted with increasing frequency throughout 2011 and Sikander confirmed that they were indeed in a relationship in an interview which featured on the cover of Showtime Magazine's December 2011 issue, entitled “Shama Sikander Finally Breaks Her Silence On Her Relationship With Alexx O'Nell”. More recently, a June 2012 interview with Sikander disclosed that the two met through friends at a sundown party .. and that she was "won over nearly immediately after he played some music for her ... [O'Nell's original] compositions ... to be featured in an album that will release soon.”
