# Shazahn Padamsee
**Shazahn Padamsee** (born 1987) is an Indian actress, model, and singer, the daughter of theater personality [Alyque Padamsee](https://www.edgepedia.org/alyque-padamsee) and pop singer Sharon Prabhakar, who made her film debut in *Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year* (2009) and later released the single "Raatan Kaaliyan" (2026).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shazahn-padamsee/5848/filmography) • [2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) • [3](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shazahn-padamsee) • [4](https://music.apple.com/us/album/raatan-kaaliyan-single/6800276041)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 (BookMyShow and Rotten Tomatoes); IMDb lists 1987, Paris, France[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shazahn-padamsee/5848/filmography) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/shazahn_padamsee) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3724228/) |
| Parents | Theatre figure and ad filmmaker Alyque Padamsee and pop singer Sharon Prabhakar[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) |
| Film debut | *Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year* (2009), as Sherena Khanna, opposite Ranbir Kapoor, directed by Shimit Amin[3](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shazahn-padamsee) |
| Notable roles | June Pinto in *Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji* (2011); Parul in *Housefull 2* (2012); Rooba in *Orange* (2010); Anu in *Kanimozhi* (2010)[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3724228/) |
| Music debut | Single "Raatan Kaaliyan", released 19 August 2026[4](https://music.apple.com/us/album/raatan-kaaliyan-single/6800276041) |
| Marriage | Married businessman Ashish Kanakia on 5 June 2025[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee) |
## Background and family
Padamsee grew up in a household built around performance. Her father, Alyque Padamsee, was a prominent figure in advertising and English theater, and her mother, Sharon Prabhakar, was among India's first pop stars; rehearsals for plays and musicals were part of her childhood, and working musicians and actors were regular visitors.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) • [9](https://www.altbollywood.com/post/shazahn-padamsee-raatan-kaaliyan-singing-debut) She has described herself as very shy as a teenager, hiding behind her father when photographers appeared, and doing backstage work on productions while observing the actors.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) • [10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/slideshows/in-the-world-of-shazahn-padamsee/in-the-world-of-shazahn-padamsee-2/)
Before acting she tried several paths: she interned with ad filmmaker Ram Madhwani and trained as a copywriter, did scriptwriting, and worked at an event management company.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) • [7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html) Her entry into performance came when a friend of her father's, directing a play, asked her to fill in for an actress who had dropped out; she agreed expecting only to sit on stage reading a book, then found herself delivering most of the dialogue.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) She trained with theater teacher Barry John and under her father, took courses in dialogue delivery and Hindi, and studied kathak for three months.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm) She later produced and acted in her own play, *Unspoken Dialogues*.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html)
**Modelling.** Ramp work led to commercials for brands including Ponds, Clean & Clear, McDonald's, and Nescafe; she has said she landed eight major commercials in nine months and that people still referred to her as "the Clean & Clear girl". She also appeared with [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan) in an Airtel advertisement.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html)
## Film career
**Debut.** Padamsee made her film entry under the [Yash Raj Films](https://www.edgepedia.org/yash-raj-films) banner in *Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year* (2009), playing Sherena Khanna, one of the office colleagues, opposite [Ranbir Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranbir-kapoor) in a film directed by Shimit Amin; YRF records that she received appreciation for the role.[3](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shazahn-padamsee) She has said she deliberately wanted to launch with a large production house and turned down other offers while waiting.[2](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm)
**South Indian films.** Tamil and [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) followed after producers saw her advertisements. In the Tamil film *Kanimozhi* (2010), directed by Sripathi and starring Jai, she played Anu, a fun-loving girl; the film was shot in 25 days during Chennai's hottest month.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html) In the Telugu film *Orange* (2010), she played Rooba, the first love of Ram Charan Teja's character, in a flashback sequence; she described the role as important to the film and said she saw clear growth between her *Rocket Singh* and *Orange* performances.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html) She has called the southern film sets a strong learning experience, noting crews reporting at 4:45 am under strict schedules.[11](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/age-is-just-a-number-shazahn-padamsee-1.752526)
**Hindi films.** In Madhur Bhandarkar's *Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji* (2011) she played June Pinto, a Catholic office intern, a role she called her dream role and one in which she saw much of herself.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html) She then played Parul in the ensemble comedy *Housefull 2* (2012), alongside [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar) and [John Abraham](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-abraham).[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3724228/) • [12](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/bollywood-is-a-different-world-for-me-shazahn-padamsee/articleshow/10463973.cms) Later credits include *Masala* (2013, Telugu), *Solid Patels* (2015), and *Disco Valley*.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shazahn-padamsee/5848/filmography) In October 2023 she appeared in *Pagalpan Next Level*, shot in California, playing the wife of a bodybuilder's character.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee)
## Music and later work
In August 2026 Padamsee released "Raatan Kaaliyan", her first original single, a two-minute Hindi pop track about a relationship shifting from emotional dependence to steadier love.[4](https://music.apple.com/us/album/raatan-kaaliyan-single/6800276041) • [9](https://www.altbollywood.com/post/shazahn-padamsee-raatan-kaaliyan-singing-debut) She has described the move as a creative extension rather than a career shift, saying "I am a singer-actor now", and has said more singles will follow before an album; her live concerts blend her own work with covers.[13](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shazahn-padamsee-on-her-musical-debut-music-is-where-my-heart-is-101788256335774.html) She has worked in the indie pop genre and has said music is where her heart is.[13](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shazahn-padamsee-on-her-musical-debut-music-is-where-my-heart-is-101788256335774.html)
Her other work includes hosting the Sony WWE show *Super Dhamaal* in January 2023 alongside [Sharman Joshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharman-joshi), using the stage name Sashaa Padamsee, and an extended cameo in the 2025 series *[Hai Junoon!](https://www.edgepedia.org/hai-junoon)* opposite [Neil Nitin Mukesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-nitin-mukesh).[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee) In 2011 she was placed 37th on the Times 50 Most Desirable Women list.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee)
## Personal life
Padamsee became engaged to businessman Ashish Kanakia in November 2024, and they married on 5 June 2025 in an intimate ceremony attended by family and close friends.[8](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee)
## References
1. [Shazahn Padamsee filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shazahn-padamsee/5848/filmography)
2. [Meet Ranbir's new girlfriend, Rediff.com Movies (2009)](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/2009/aug/17/slide-show-1-interview-with-shazhan-padamsee.htm)
3. [Shazahn Padamsee, Yash Raj Films Alumni](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shazahn-padamsee)
4. [Raatan Kaaliyan - Single, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/raatan-kaaliyan-single/6800276041)
5. [Shazahn Padamsee, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/shazahn_padamsee)
6. [Shazahn Padamsee, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3724228/)
7. [Shazahn Padamsee, the actress, The New Indian Express (2010)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Oct/16/shazahn-padamsee-the-actress-195831.html)
8. [Shazahn Padamsee (born 1987), VALÉORINE](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/shazahn-padamsee)
9. [Shazahn Padamsee Trades Bollywood for a Mic on 'Raatan Kaaliyan', Alt Bollywood](https://www.altbollywood.com/post/shazahn-padamsee-raatan-kaaliyan-singing-debut)
10. [In the World of Shazahn Padamsee, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/slideshows/in-the-world-of-shazahn-padamsee/in-the-world-of-shazahn-padamsee-2/)
11. [Age is just a number: Shazahn Padamsee, Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/age-is-just-a-number-shazahn-padamsee-1.752526)
12. [Bollywood is a different world for me: Shazahn Padamsee, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/bollywood-is-a-different-world-for-me-shazahn-padamsee/articleshow/10463973.cms)
13. [Shazahn Padamsee on her musical debut: Music is where my heart is, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shazahn-padamsee-on-her-musical-debut-music-is-where-my-heart-is-101788256335774.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1990s–2000s › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license