Shakeela


C. Shakeela, known mononymously as Shakeela, is an Indian film actress and former glamour model. She predominantly acted in Southern Cinema. Shakeela debuted in the film Playgirls at the age of 16 as a supporting actress. She appeared in about 250 films, most of them softcore, which made her a major sex symbol in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Early life

Shakeela was born in a conservative Muslim family based in Nellore. Her mother Chand Begum was from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and father Chand Basha. She had six other siblings and did her school education from six different schools in Madras. She was not good at studies and could not complete her school leaving certificate examination, eventually making her foray into films.

Career

She acted in many B grade movies and also in soft-porn movies. One of her big hit films was Kinnarathumbikal in Malayalam, which brought her into limelight and resulted in an unheard-of craze for her from youngsters to the old. She did a few controversial topless scenes in her initial movies, but once she got noticed after Kinnarathumbikal. Her B-Grade films were dubbed and released in almost all Indian languages. Her films were dubbed even into foreign languages like Nepalese, Chinese, Sinhala, etc. After she acted in several movies, the soft-porn movie industry in India was colloquially called as "shakeela films".
Shakeela started appearing in comedy oriented family character roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada since 2003. She wrote her autobiography which told about her family,and her background, acquaintances with notable film personalities, politicians and childhood friends.
In January 2018, she announced her 250th film as an actor, Sheelavathi, would begin production.

Personal life

In 2002, Shakeela announced that she will no longer act in B grade movies. Shakeela released her autobiography in 2018.

Filmography

As an actress

Shakeela has featured in over 100 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Odia and Telugu in various roles.
YearFilmLanguage
2019Kobbari MattaTelugu
2019Kanni RaasiTamil
2019PottuTamil
2017SeviliTamil
2015Sakalakala VallavanTamil
2015Love U AliaKannada
2015Vasuvum Saravananum Onna PadichavangaTamil
2015Romantic TargetTelugu
2014Adhu Vera Idhu VeraTamil
2013Ade BaajaTelugu
2013RagalaipuramTamil
2013Neelakurinji PoothuMalayalam
2012Iniyum Oru JanmamMalayalam
2011NinetyKannada
2011Teja Bhai & FamilyMalayalam
2011Guru SishyanTamil
2010VallakottaiTamil
2010Boss Engira BhaskaranTamil
2009Malai MalaiTamil
2009Siva Manasula SakthiTamil
2009CurrentTelugu
2008Dongala BandiTelugu
2008Paape O ParupuTelugu
2008Lakshmi PutruduTelugu
2008Vambu SandaiTamil
2007Azhagiya Tamil MaganTamil
2007ViyabariTamil
2007Chotta MumbaiMalayalam
2006VaseegharaTamil
2006VathiyarTamil
2006BangaramTelugu
2005Thaka Thimi ThaTamil
2005Keelu GurramTelugu
2004SandraMalayalam
2003DhoolTamil
2003DongoduTelugu
2003NijamTelugu
2003JayamTamil
2003Puttintiki Ra ChelliTelugu
2003Veendum ThulabharamMalayalam
2003Ananthapuram RaajakumaariMalayalam
2003JayamTelugu
2003Duppatlo Dhada DhadaTelugu
2002PenmanassuTelugu
2002Thirunelliyile PenkuttyMalayalam
2002Namukkoru KoodaramMalayalam
2002Miss SuvarnaMalayalam
2002Pranaya ShalabhangalMalayalam
2002MohaswapnamMalayalam
2002SisiramMalayalam
2002Uff Yeh JawaniMalayalam
2002AalinganamMalayalam
2002Eden ThottamMalayalam
2002Niramulla SwapnangalMalayalam
2002Randu PenkuttikalMalayalam
2002PushpasharamMalayalam
2002Soundarya LahariMalayalam
2002SnehaMalayalam
2002Thotti GangTelugu
2002SoundharyalahariTelugu
2001AgniputhriTelugu
2001SagaraKannada
2001SnehaTamil
2001Nayeem And ShakeelaTelugu
2001AalilathoniMalayalam
2001SwargavaathilMalayalam
2001LaasyamMalayalam
2001MohanayanangalMalayalam
2001ChaarasundariMalayalam
2001PremaagniMalayalam
2001Kalluvaathukkal KathreenaMalayalam
2001RomanceMalayalam
2001MaamiMalayalam
2001NimishangalMalayalam
2001Kinnaaram ChollicholliMalayalam
2001Ee RaavilMalayalam
2001Driving SchoolMalayalam
2001Naalaam SimhamMalayalam
2001AgnipushpamMalayalam
2001KaadambariMalayalam
2001Laya ThalangalMalayalam
2001PranayaaksharangalMalayalam
2001VezhambalMalayalam
2001YaaminiMalayalam
2001AgrahaaramMalayalam
2001KoumaramMalayalam
2000Kinnara ThumbikalMalayalam
2000Neela Thadakathile Nizhal PakshikalMalayalam
2000ManjukaalappakshiMalayalam
2000KaatharaMalayalam
2000NishasurabhikalMalayalam
2000ThankathoniMalayalam
2000RaakkilikalMalayalam
1999CaptainMalayalam
1998KulirkaattuMalayalam
1998MarumalarchiTamil
1998Udhavikku VaralaamaaTamil
1994Jallikattu KaalaiTamil
1994PlaygirlsTamil

In popular culture

directed a biopic based on her life. Richa Chadda has portrayed her character.