# Sheela
**Sheela** (ഷീല) is an Indian actress, director, and writer who worked mainly in Malayalam and [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) from the early 1960s, best known for her record-setting onscreen partnership with the actor [Prem Nazir](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-nazir) and for her National Film Award-winning role in *Akale* (2005).[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [2](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) She was born in 1945 into a Syrian Catholic family in Thrissur, Kerala, and entered films as a teenager after her father's death left her family in financial difficulty.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945, Thrissur, Kerala, to a Syrian Catholic family; birth year is given as 1945 by MalayalaSangeetham.Info and as 1945 (22 March) by Filmibeat and IMDb[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790659/) |
| Film debut | Tamil film *Paasam* (1962) opposite M.G. Ramachandran, billed as Saraswathi Devi; first Malayalam film *Bhagyajathakam* (1962) opposite Sathyan[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) |
| Screen name | The name "Sheela" was given by director P. Bhaskaran, who cast her in *Bhagyajathakam* after seeing her on the *Paasam* set[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) |
| Output | Over 500 films across South Indian languages, about 300 of them in Malayalam[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) |
| Record pairing | Lead pair with Prem Nazir in 107 films, a Guinness World Record; several other sources give the figure as 130[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [7](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/santhivila-dinesh-reveals-that-sheela-asked-high-remuneration-than-prem-nazir-108741.html) |
| Directing | Directed *Yakshagaanam* (1976) and *Shikarangal* (1979); described as the first woman from South India to write and direct a film[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) |
| Major awards | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for *Akale* (2005); Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress in 1969, 1971, and 1976; J.C. Daniel Award in 2018[2](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) • [8](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/malayalam/movie-actress/sheela) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) |
## Early life and entry into cinema
Sheela grew up in a family that moved frequently because her father worked for the railway, and the family settled in [Coimbatore](https://www.edgepedia.org/coimbatore) after his retirement.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) In interviews she has described a strict religious household: at about age ten she was beaten by her father for going to see a film, and the children were made to confess to a priest afterward.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html)
**Circumstances, not ambition, brought her to acting.** After her father's death the family's finances deteriorated, and at 13 she joined the drama company of the actor [S. S. Rajendran](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-s-rajendran) in Chennai.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) Her first stage play, *Raja Annamalai Mandram*, in which she played a sculptor's daughter, was watched by M.G. Ramachandran and the director T. R. Ramanna, who signed her for a film that same day; she later said her stage career ended the day it began.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html)
Her first film was the Tamil *Paasam*, shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu, in which she appeared opposite M.G. Ramachandran under the screen name Saraswathi Devi.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) On that set the director [P. Bhaskaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-bhaskaran) spotted her and cast her as the heroine of his Malayalam film *Bhagyajathakam* opposite Sathyan, giving her the name Sheela; the film reached theaters first, so *Bhagyajathakam* (1962) is her Malayalam debut.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html)
## Career peak and the Prem Nazir partnership
Through the 1960s and 1970s Sheela was the dominant heroine of [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema). In 1965 she acted in ten films, and in 1971 in more than twenty, all in lead roles; one account of the period states that in most Malayalam films of the 1960s the heroine was Sheela, Sharada, or both.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) Her best-remembered films from this era include *Chemmeen* (1965), which won the President's Gold Medal, *Kallichellamma*, *Vazhve Mayam*, *Velutha Kathreena*, *Kadathanaattu Maakkam*, *Sthanarthi Saramma*, and *Kannappanunni*.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/actor-sheela-on-evolution-of-work-culture-in-malayalam-film-industry-8591630/) • [2](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
The pairing with Prem Nazir defined her stardom. The two acted as the lead pair in 107 films, a figure MalayalaSangeetham.Info and IMDb describe as a Guinness World Record for the most films shared by a hero-heroine pair; other sources, including Filmibeat features and a Manorama article on Prem Nazir, give the number as 130.[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790659/) • [7](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/santhivila-dinesh-reveals-that-sheela-asked-high-remuneration-than-prem-nazir-108741.html) • [10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kozhikode/2020/01/07/kozhikode-prem-nazeer.html) Their first film together was *Ninmaninja Kalpadukal* (1963).[1](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors) She has said that she was at one point paid more than her male co-stars, and that producers agreed to her demands.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html) A producer's account published by Filmibeat states that she commanded a higher fee than Prem Nazir himself.[7](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/santhivila-dinesh-reveals-that-sheela-asked-high-remuneration-than-prem-nazir-108741.html)
The workload of the era was intense. In a 2023 interview she recalled shooting two call sheets (scheduled call times for an actor's shooting sessions) a day, from 7 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 9 pm, with a film finished in ten to fifteen days, and acting in as many as four films a day: "in the morning I would act as Prem Nazir's mother, then as his wife in the noon and in the evening as his girlfriend."[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/actor-sheela-on-evolution-of-work-culture-in-malayalam-film-industry-8591630/)
## Directing and writing
Sheela moved behind the camera in the 1970s. She directed *Yakshagaanam* (1976) and *Shikarangal* (1979), the latter remade into Tamil, and wrote the story for three films; Onmanorama describes her as the first woman from [South India](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-india) to write and direct a film.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) • [8](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/malayalam/movie-actress/sheela) She has said she took up direction to help a journalist friend in financial difficulty, and that she stopped because directing at the time required one person to do everything.[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html) She has also published more than 30 short stories and two novels, and paints.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html)
## Break and comeback
Sheela left acting temporarily in 1980 with the film *Sphodanam*, saying she wanted time with her son; she has described changing her phone number so that producers would stop offering her roles.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html) • [3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html) She returned after 22 years with Sathyan Anthikad's *Manassinakkare* (2003), a comeback for which she credits Anthikad with giving her a new role and standing in Malayalam cinema.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html) • [11](https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/sunday/2019/06/09/malayalam-actress-sheela-interview-j-c-daniel-prize.html)
The comeback brought her most-awarded work. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Kerala State Film Award for her performance in Shyamaprasad's *Akale* (2005).[2](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf) • [6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) She has continued to act in supporting roles into the 2020s, with credits including *Basheerinte Premalekhanam* (2017), *Aarattu* (2022), and *Anuragam* (2023).[12](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/filmography.html)
## Roles declined and regrets
Sheela has been open about the parts she turned down. She says the decision not to act in Bharathan's *Rathinirvedam* was her own, made after reading the script, and that she has no regrets about it.[13](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actress-sheela-about-her-movies-and-script-selecting-process/articleshow/99961900.cms) • [3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html) Her stated regrets are the films she lost rather than refused: she was originally cast as Kamala Das (Madhavikutty) in Kamal's *Aami* and had accepted the role, but a change of producer ended her involvement, and she dropped out of *Bhargavi Nilayam* because of a clash in call sheets.[13](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actress-sheela-about-her-movies-and-script-selecting-process/articleshow/99961900.cms) • [3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html)
## Recognition
Her awards include the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for 1969 (*Kallichellamma*), 1971, and 1976, the Filmfare Award South for Best Actress in 1977, the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for *Akale* in 2005, and lifetime achievement honors including the Asianet Film Award in 2007.[8](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/malayalam/movie-actress/sheela) The J.C. Daniel Award, Kerala's highest honor for cinema, came to her in 2018, an awarding Onmanorama characterized as late.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) The same article notes that Prem Nazir received the [Padma Bhushan](https://www.edgepedia.org/padma-bhushan) while Sheela had not received a [Padma Shri](https://www.edgepedia.org/padma-shri) as of 2022.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html)
## Personal life
Sheela's son Vishnu is also a film actor.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html) She lives in Chennai.[6](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html) She has said that motherhood outranks any artistic honor for her, telling *The New Indian Express* that nothing comes above it, "not even an Oscar award."[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html)
## References
1. [ഷീല / Sheela profile, MalayalaSangeetham.Info](https://ml.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?artist=Sheela&category=actors)
2. [52nd National Film Awards catalogue, National Film Archive of India](https://nfaindia.org/images/pdf/52nd%20National%20Film%20Award%20Catalogue.pdf)
3. [Express Dialogues: Nothing is above motherhood, not even an Oscar: Sheela, The New Indian Express (30 April 2023)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Apr/30/express-dialogues-nothing-is-above-motherhood-not-even-an-oscar-sheela-2570659.html)
4. [ഷീല ജീവചരിത്രം / Sheela Biography, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/biography.html)
5. [Sheela, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790659/)
6. [Magnificent at 60: Talking films and life with Sheela, Onmanorama (26 June 2022)](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/06/26/magnificent-at-60-talking-films-and-life-with-sheela.html)
7. [Santhivila Dinesh reveals that Sheela asked higher remuneration than Prem Nazir, Filmibeat Malayalam (10 March 2024)](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/santhivila-dinesh-reveals-that-sheela-asked-high-remuneration-than-prem-nazir-108741.html)
8. [Malayalam Movie Actress Sheela Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/malayalam/movie-actress/sheela)
9. [Actor Sheela on evolution of work culture in film industry, The Indian Express (4 May 2023)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/actor-sheela-on-evolution-of-work-culture-in-malayalam-film-industry-8591630/)
10. [ഓർമയായിട്ട് 31 വർഷങ്ങൾ; കോഴിക്കോട്ടുകാർക്ക് എന്തായിരുന്നു പ്രേംനസീർ, Manorama Online (7 January 2020)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kozhikode/2020/01/07/kozhikode-prem-nazeer.html)
11. [ജെ.സി.ഡാനിയേൽ പുരസ്കാര നിറവിൽ നടി ഷീല, Manorama Online (9 June 2019)](https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/sunday/2019/06/09/malayalam-actress-sheela-interview-j-c-daniel-prize.html)
12. [ഷീല അഭിനയിച്ച സിനിമകൾ / Sheela Filmography, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/sheela/filmography.html)
13. [രതിനിർവ്വേദം ഞാൻ വേണ്ടെന്ന് വെയ്ക്കുകയായിരുന്നു, Samayam Malayalam (3 May 2023)](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actress-sheela-about-her-movies-and-script-selecting-process/articleshow/99961900.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, silent to 1960s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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