Shama Sikander

Sikander at the screening of the short film Sexaholic

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",[10][11] and eventually elevated her to "one of the most loved faces on Indian television.".[12] Her performance earned her numerous nominations, her wins 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.[13]

Fueled by the success of Ye Meri Life Hai and her subsequent performances, Sikander would be seen in 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, 2008 would also see Sikander appear on numerous programs including the celebrity dance program Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena as a celebrity contestant alongside notable Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli (where she drew praise from Bollywood Superstar Sushmita Sen who called her "one of the most fabulous dancers I've ever seen"[14]), next in the singing reality program Jjhoom India again 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 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, identifying her as one of the few who have been able to navigate between film and television.[15] 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 and was regarded by critics as average[16] to disappointing.[17][18][19] Sify's Sonia Chopra commented that "The cast doesn't disappoint as much as the film",[17] and that "Shama Sikander [is] earnest enough ... molten-hot and ... superbly styled".

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 Hindi), produced by the Bollywood juggernaut Yash Raj Films. With a production budget far in excess of any television program that came before, YRF's Seven aired weekly episodes instead of daily, in contrast to its competing programming. Sikander's performance and the program as a whole was widely appreciated for being "daringly different",[20] with its own "dedicated audience"[21] eliciting a "huge response through ... platforms like internet, e-mails and social networking sites."[22] Nevertheless, perhaps due to its weekly format, lack of significant promotion, excessive production budget, and YRF's primary focus on its film division, Seven experienced only niche viewership[23][24] and was eventually brought to a close after only one season of 26 episodes.[21]

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 stands as one of the channel's, and indeed the market segment's, highest-rated programs.[25][26] Sikander quit the show in 2014.

In March 2016, Sikander featured in the short film Sexaholic.[27] Bollywoodlife.com noted that Sikander's performance in the YouTube series "treading into a territory, which would make many male actors balk, Shama is supremely comfortable with her choice."

Continuing to captivate audiences with bold content distributed exclusively online on YouTube, in early 2017 Sikander was featured in the title role of Maaya in Maaya: Slave of Her Desires directed by Vikram Bhatt. Dealing with "the theme of BDSM - a variety of erotic practices or role playing involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission,"[28] the miniseries is frequently cited as among the best produced in India till date.[29][28]

In December 2017, Sikander announced Ab Dil Ki Sunn, the maiden project of her home production in which she also plays the lead role.[30] Inspired by her own life incidents,[31] Ab Dil Ki Sunn features 7 short films based on different human aspects such as bipolar disorder, depression, and other social and emotional complexities, once again distributed exclusively on YouTube. Ab Dil Ki Sunn launched on YouTube in early 2018 and the event was attended by many notable Bollywood celebrities.[32]

Sikander's return to the theaters comes by way of the November 1st 2019 release of the mainstream Bollywood thriller Bypass Road. Starring Sikander alongside notable actors including Neil Nitin Mukesh, Adah Sharma, Sudhanshu Pandey, Manish Chaudhary, Rajit Kapoor, and Gul Panag the Times of India predicts "it is sure going to be one edge-of-the-seat thriller."[33]

On 3 December 2010 Sikander launched her women's wear fashion label Saisha in the upscale Mumbai suburb of Bandra West,[34] with the high profile and widely covered inauguration attended by her close friends and Bollywood superstars Sushmita Sen and Jackie Shroff.[35][36] Sikander has showcased her collection numerous times since, often, but not always, appearing on the ramp in her own designs.[37] Saisha has appeared both domestically in Hyderabad Fashion Week[4] and Mumbai's Lakme Fashion Week,[38] as well as internationally, most notably in South Africa.[39]

Opting in late 2017 to divide her attention between performance and production, Sikander incorporated the Film and TV production company Shama Sikander Films Pvt. Ltd. which is best known for the short film series Ab Dil Ki Sunn.[40]

Having previously featured in a number of music videos in Punjabi and other Indian languages (most notably for acclaimed singer Abhijeet[41]) Sikander reportedly produced a (very sensuous) music video featuring herself alongside boyfriend actor / musician Alexx O'Nell picturising his original English language composition entitled 'Still on My Mind'.[42] The video, which marks their first on screen collaboration has not yet been released.[43] Reports also indicated that she may have been producing an entire English language album authored by O'Nell.[44] In March, Shama Sikander appeared in a music video, Hawa Karda by Koinage Records opposite T.V. actor Gaurav Bajaj. The song was sung by Punjabi Singer Afsana Khan and Sahil Sharma.

In 2010, gossip columnist Vicky Lalwani linked Sikander to actor Mimoh Chakraborty – a claim both parties denied.[61]

In 2011, she started dating India-based American actor and musician Alexx O'Nell.[62] They broke up in January 2015.[63]

In January 2016, Sikander got engaged to American businessman James Milliron in Dubai, UAE.[64][65] On 14 March 2022, the couple tied knot in Goa Christian ceremony.[66]