Sheela

Sheela : Biography

Sheela is a Malayalam film actress from India. She holds, along with Prem Nazir, the Guinness book record for acting in the largest number of films (107) together consecutively. In 2005 she won the award of Best actress in a supporting role from the Government of India for her role in the Malayalam film Akale

Sheela: Career

The passage of years has left her unmarked. Ask her what the secret is and pat comes the reply, "a feeling of satisfaction." As if to reinforce her point she quotes a saying in Tamil, "podhum enrei manamei ponn sei marundhu," meaning the key to one's happiness is being happy with what one has.
And this is one actor who has every reason to feel happy. Sheela's career as an actor began as a substitute in a play organised by railway employees. Her father, a railway employee, passed away before Sheela made her debut in `Paasom' opposite MGR. Her first film in Malayalam was `Bhagyajathakom,' with Satyan.
The next two decades saw her essay roles that were very diverse, in more than 410 films in films such as `Chemeen,' `Kallichellama,' and `Vazhve Mayom.' The number of awards she has won, such as the Kerala State awards, the Lux award (five times), and the Filmfare Life Achievement award, are testimony to her acting skills.
Her name, along with Prem Nazir's name figures in the Guinness Book of Records, for acting together consecutively in 107 films.
In the 70s and 80s, Sheela's tried her hand at directing as well. She directed two films, `Yakshaganom' and `Shikarangal'.
She wrote the story, script and screenplay for 'Shikharangal', which was also remade in Tamil.
Besides films, she has directed a tele-film `Ninaivukale neengividu' in which Jayabharati acted. "The success or failure of any film depends on the manner in which it is presented, and that solely dwells with direction" opines Sheela.