South actress Shakeela has shared a serious health scare, revealing she underwent major neck surgery after years of lying sideways in bed for hours, playing phone games and scrolling reels.


Actress Shakeela undergoes major neck surgery, blames hours of phone use in bed

<p>Richa Chadha was recently seen in ‘Shakeela’ playing the eponymous role of the South Indian adult star who ruled box office with her commercially hit films. With the film having seen a nationwide theatrical release albeit limited owing to COVID restrictions, ‘Shakeela’ director Indrajit Lankesh spoke to WION about making a pan-India film about a faded star who ruled the hearts of cinephiles in the 90s-2000s and lost her stardom to a world that misses you in the blink-of-an-eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She’s been called many names including a ‘sex symbol’ and rightly so but Indrajit Lankesh focused in the film on her life’s struggles as he was “inspired by Shakeela who came from a minority community, belonged to a poor family and entered Malayalam cinema that was dominated by male actors that too in the 90s.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Shakeela’s is a rags-to-riches story. I met her at a time when she was going through a crisis and I felt the urge to tell her story. While I was writing Shakeela’s story for my film, I knew I was not going to glorify her life,” said Indrajit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead of using her ‘sexy image’ as a trope through the film, Indrajit dealt with her story sensitively. “Shakeela was an adult star -- the first Indian adult star. Her films were dubbed in fact in all Asian languages -- Japanese, Russian, Sinhalese, Chinese, Nepalese. She was a trendsetter in her own way. Today we try to find ways of entering into Asian film markets and here she was already a star. Having said that, I always knew that I was making a film on a successful woman and not just an adult star. I believe I sketched the character with substance and never treated her just as a set decoration or property. I was aware of not making the film caricaturish. I knew what I was making,” explained the director on his vision for the biopic.</p>

<p>How he found Shakeela in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/richa-chadha">Richa Chadha</a> is another interesting aspect of the film as he knew from the start that he did not have to cast an actress who fit the physicality of Shakeela. “I never went to match the actor in her physicality or I wasn't looking for a look-alike. If I would have gone for that, I would have failed in my efforts. Richa is a realistic actor and she brings a lot of inner layers in her acting. I made Shakeela and Richa meet once. While Richa studied her body language, she never tried to imitate her. That's what helped me in narrating the story,” said Indrajit, happy with her on-screen Shakeela. &nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIT0UwUvvqs" width="640"></iframe></p>

<p>Happy with the film’s response and moving on with newer ventures, Indrajit is looking forward to a more successful 2021. Reflecting on changes that we can expect in the cinema industry in the post-pandemic world, he said, “Every creator is going to think pan India. Remakes are going to go out of the window. Amid COVID, digital platforms have seen a major boost and now the future lies with pan India films. Look at ‘Extraction’. It was such a massive hit. Led by Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, co-starring Iranian actress, having been shot in India. It’s a truly global film. The future of Indian cinema is also going to be pan-India and pan-global.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Shakeela'&nbsp;released in theatres on Christmas 2020.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Richa Chadha was recently seen in ‘Shakeela’ playing the eponymous role of the South Indian adult star who ruled box office with her commercially hit films. With the film having seen a nationwide theatrical release albeit limited owing to COVID restrictions, ‘Shakeela’ director Indrajit Lankesh spoke to WION about making a pan-India film about a faded star who ruled the hearts of cinephiles in the 90s-2000s and lost her stardom to a world that misses you in the blink-of-an-eye.

Richa Chadha was recently seen in ‘Shakeela’ playing the eponymous role of the South Indian adult star who ruled box office with her commercially hit films. With the film having seen a nationwide theatrical release albeit limited owing to COVID restrictions, ‘Shakeela’ director Indrajit Lankesh spoke to WION about making a pan-India film about a faded star who ruled the hearts of cinephiles in the 90s-2000s and lost her stardom to a world that misses you in the blink-of-an-eye. She’s been called many names including a ‘sex symbol’ and rightly so but Indrajit Lankesh focused in the film on her life’s struggles as he was “inspired by Shakeela who came from a minority community, belonged to a poor family and entered Malayalam cinema that was dominated by male actors that too in the 90s.” “Shakeela’s is a rags-to-riches story. I met her at a time when she was going through a crisis and I felt the urge to tell her story. While I was writing Shakeela’s story for my film, I knew I was not going to glorify her life,” said Indrajit. Instead of using her ‘sexy image’ as a trope through the film, Indrajit dealt with her story sensitively. “Shakeela was an adult star -- the first Indian adult star. Her films were dubbed in fact in all Asian languages -- Japanese, Russian, Sinhalese, Chinese, Nepalese. She was a trendsetter in her own way. Today we try to find ways of entering into Asian film markets and here she was already a star. Having said that, I always knew that I was making a film on a successful woman and not just an adult star. I believe I sketched the character with substance and never treated her just as a set decoration or property. I was aware of not making the film caricaturish. I knew what I was making,” explained the director on his vision for the biopic. How he found Shakeela in Richa Chadha is another interesting aspect of the film as he knew from the start that he did not have to cast an actress who fit the physicality of Shakeela. “I never went to match the actor in her physicality or I wasn't looking for a look-alike. If I would have gone for that, I would have failed in my efforts. Richa is a realistic actor and she brings a lot of inner layers in her acting. I made Shakeela and Richa meet once. While Richa studied her body language, she never tried to imitate her. That's what helped me in narrating the story,” said Indrajit, happy with her on-screen Shakeela. Happy with the film’s response and moving on with newer ventures, Indrajit is looking forward to a more successful 2021. Reflecting on changes that we can expect in the cinema industry in the post-pandemic world, he said, “Every creator is going to think pan India. Remakes are going to go out of the window. Amid COVID, digital platforms have seen a major boost and now the future lies with pan India films. Look at ‘Extraction’. It was such a massive hit. Led by Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth, co-starring Iranian actress, having been shot in India. It’s a truly global film. The future of Indian cinema is also going to be pan-India and pan-global.” 'Shakeela' released in theatres on Christmas 2020.

'Shakeela' director Indrajit Lankesh on future of Indian cinema and the age of pan-global films

<p>The Christmas holiday weekend saw a lot of movie releases including<strong> Richa Chadha starrer ‘Shakeela’.</strong> The film released in theatres on Christmas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The film directed by Indrajit Lankesh who made his debut in <strong>Bollywood with a biopic on Shakeela,</strong> however, was hit by piracy as hackers released the film online.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day after official release, Shakeela was available on torrent to watch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dubbed in South Indian languages, the Hindi film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Esther Noronha, Rajeev Pillai, Suchendra Prasad and Kajol Chugh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sources close to the film reveal that the makers are keen to take action against the ones responsible for this and they are trying to trace the source from where the film has been leaked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>‘Shakeela’ is on the life and times of adult star of the same name. She is India's first adult film star.</p>


The Christmas holiday weekend saw a lot of movie releases including Richa Chadha starrer ‘Shakeela’. The film released in theatres on Christmas. The film directed by Indrajit Lankesh who made his debut in Bollywood with a biopic on Shakeela, however, was hit by piracy as hackers released the film online.

The Christmas holiday weekend saw a lot of movie releases including Richa Chadha starrer ‘Shakeela’. The film released in theatres on Christmas. The film directed by Indrajit Lankesh who made his debut in Bollywood with a biopic on Shakeela, however, was hit by piracy as hackers released the film online. A day after official release, Shakeela was available on torrent to watch. Dubbed in South Indian languages, the Hindi film stars Pankaj Tripathi, Esther Noronha, Rajeev Pillai, Suchendra Prasad and Kajol Chugh. Sources close to the film reveal that the makers are keen to take action against the ones responsible for this and they are trying to trace the source from where the film has been leaked. ‘Shakeela’ is on the life and times of adult star of the same name. She is India's first adult film star.

Richa Chadha starrer 'Shakeela' leaked online a day after release

<p>Richa Chadha turns yesteryear's star Shakeela in Indra Lankesh's new film by the same name. The trailer was released on Wednesday by the makers and gives a glimpse of the meteoric rise of soft-porn Malayalam star Shakeela in the late 90s and early 2000s.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
'Shakeela' is the unlikely tale of a woman driven by circumstances of going from rags to riches to drags and tells the story of the real-life beyond the reel personality people have been familiar with.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Such was the popularity of Shakeela, that her films were released in several languages including Sinhalese and Chinese.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
At the peak of her career, she gave the then superstars of the south- a predominantly male-dominated industry- a tough competition. It is often said that exhibitors would think twice to release any film that would clash with a Shakeela film!&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIT0UwUvvqs" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
&nbsp;Keeping this unique story and the absolute intriguing narrative of the person in question in mind, the makers of 'Shakeela' has decided to release the film far and wide. Becoming the first film post lockdown to release in over 1000 screens, the film will open in five languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.<br />
<br />
Richa Chadha will be seen playing Shakeela while Pankaj Tripathi will play a prominent south star in the film.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Talking about his film, director Inderjit Lankesh says, "Shakeela is truly a labor of love and commitment to show Shakeela’s story is iconic in so many ways. Her story is almost folklore today, but the truth is that so much happened to her while she soared to success from nothing and then came back to nothing again. I’m happy that our producers are releasing the film so widely, gives me the confidence to know that it’s a film that will appeal to the larger masses. To release in so many languages was important because that was the power of Shakeela."<br />
<br />
The film is presented and produced by Sammys Magic Cinema Motion Picture Production and distributed by UFO. &nbsp;'Shakeela' will hit theatres on December 25.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Richa Chadha turns yesteryear's star Shakeela in Indra Lankesh's new film by the same name. The trailer was released on Wednesday by the makers and gives a glimpse of the meteoric rise of soft-porn Malayalam star Shakeela in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Richa Chadha turns yesteryear's star Shakeela in Indra Lankesh's new film by the same name. The trailer was released on Wednesday by the makers and gives a glimpse of the meteoric rise of soft-porn Malayalam star Shakeela in the late 90s and early 2000s. 'Shakeela' is the unlikely tale of a woman driven by circumstances of going from rags to riches to drags and tells the story of the real-life beyond the reel personality people have been familiar with. Such was the popularity of Shakeela, that her films were released in several languages including Sinhalese and Chinese. At the peak of her career, she gave the then superstars of the south- a predominantly male-dominated industry- a tough competition. It is often said that exhibitors would think twice to release any film that would clash with a Shakeela film! Keeping this unique story and the absolute intriguing narrative of the person in question in mind, the makers of 'Shakeela' has decided to release the film far and wide. Becoming the first film post lockdown to release in over 1000 screens, the film will open in five languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Richa Chadha will be seen playing Shakeela while Pankaj Tripathi will play a prominent south star in the film. Talking about his film, director Inderjit Lankesh says, "Shakeela is truly a labor of love and commitment to show Shakeela’s story is iconic in so many ways. Her story is almost folklore today, but the truth is that so much happened to her while she soared to success from nothing and then came back to nothing again. I’m happy that our producers are releasing the film so widely, gives me the confidence to know that it’s a film that will appeal to the larger masses. To release in so many languages was important because that was the power of Shakeela." The film is presented and produced by Sammys Magic Cinema Motion Picture Production and distributed by UFO. 'Shakeela' will hit theatres on December 25.

'Shakeela' trailer: Richa Chadha transforms herself to play yesteryears' popular adult star

<p>Richa Chadha starrer 'Shakeela' is finally ready for a theatrical release. The makers unveiled the first look poster of the film recently. Featuring Chadha in the titular role of yesteryear star Shakeela, the poster has a hidden messaging.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
A popular industry folklore from the 90s suggested that the one star who could bring the audience back to the theatres was Shakeela, the famed soft-porn actress who ruled the South Industry for a good part of the era.<br />
<br />
Poised for a Christmas release, her biopic has an interesting poster as well which was just released. At its first glance, it seems to ape the 90s Shakeela films but the poster itself is a testament to her triumph. Donning the walls next to her poster are remarks often hurled at her during her career.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Shakeela's success, though, inspired many younger actresses to take their chance at breaking free from the toxic star structure of the film industry.<br />
<br />
'Shakeela' is the official biopic of Malayalam actress who ruled the roost in her days of glory. The film directed by Indrajit Lankesh also stars Pankaj Tripathi. The film is a classic rags to riches of a woman,who won against all odds. She was fat shamed, slut shamed, told she is too dark but every time there was a lull at the box office, she got the cash register ringing again. Offering a humane look at the fragilities of stardom, Lankesh and Chadha together celebrate the fighting spirit of their muse.<br />
<br />
Indrajit says, "They wanted her films either banned or censored and yet her films were running 100 days upon hitting screens. It's no surprise that she was dominating the industry in a big way which threatened many big superstars. Richa is fantastic in the part and she has done full justice to the character. There aren't many who would've brought out the essence so well but in this film she breathes life into the part of a woman who has seen-it-all."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Richa Chadha starrer 'Shakeela' is finally ready for a theatrical release. The makers unveiled the first look poster of the film recently. Featuring Chadha in the titular role of yesteryear star Shakeela, the poster has a hidden messaging.

Richa Chadha starrer 'Shakeela' is finally ready for a theatrical release. The makers unveiled the first look poster of the film recently. Featuring Chadha in the titular role of yesteryear star Shakeela, the poster has a hidden messaging. A popular industry folklore from the 90s suggested that the one star who could bring the audience back to the theatres was Shakeela, the famed soft-porn actress who ruled the South Industry for a good part of the era. Poised for a Christmas release, her biopic has an interesting poster as well which was just released. At its first glance, it seems to ape the 90s Shakeela films but the poster itself is a testament to her triumph. Donning the walls next to her poster are remarks often hurled at her during her career. Shakeela's success, though, inspired many younger actresses to take their chance at breaking free from the toxic star structure of the film industry. 'Shakeela' is the official biopic of Malayalam actress who ruled the roost in her days of glory. The film directed by Indrajit Lankesh also stars Pankaj Tripathi. The film is a classic rags to riches of a woman,who won against all odds. She was fat shamed, slut shamed, told she is too dark but every time there was a lull at the box office, she got the cash register ringing again. Offering a humane look at the fragilities of stardom, Lankesh and Chadha together celebrate the fighting spirit of their muse. Indrajit says, "They wanted her films either banned or censored and yet her films were running 100 days upon hitting screens. It's no surprise that she was dominating the industry in a big way which threatened many big superstars. Richa is fantastic in the part and she has done full justice to the character. There aren't many who would've brought out the essence so well but in this film she breathes life into the part of a woman who has seen-it-all."

'Shakeela' poster featuring Richa Chadha has this hidden messaging

<p>Richa Chadha's next movie 'Shakeela' is all set to hit theatres on Christmas. The movie is the biopic of South star Shakeela who was one of the leading adult stars&nbsp;in the 90s and early 2000s.</p>

<p>The Indrajit Lankesh directorial was scheduled to hit theatres earlier this year, but due pandemic the movie was postponed.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
On Monday,&nbsp;makers shared the new poster featuring Richa in a different avatar with a gun in her hand and sporting red saree with purple glasses. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
While speaking about Shakeela's popularity, the director said, "The Malayalam film circuit was dominated by male actors when Shakeela entered the scene. She rose in popularity as her films would run for 100 days in every centre in south India. The superstars started feeling threatened. Eventually, due to backlash, her films were censored and she had to return her advances to many producers; she had to go back to her one-room apartment. Through the film, we'll show what a woman goes through in a male-dominated industry."<br />
<br />
The movie also stars Pankaj Tripathi and Malayalam actor Rajeev Pillai.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/features/who-is-shakeela-and-why-is-a-biopic-starring-richa-chadha-being-made-on-her-116151">Also read:&nbsp;Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her</a></p>


Richa Chadha's next movie 'Shakeela' is all set to hit theatres on Christmas. The movie is the biopic of South star Shakeela who was one of the leading adult stars in the 90s and early 2000s.

Richa Chadha's next movie 'Shakeela' is all set to hit theatres on Christmas. The movie is the biopic of South star Shakeela who was one of the leading adult stars in the 90s and early 2000s. The Indrajit Lankesh directorial was scheduled to hit theatres earlier this year, but due pandemic the movie was postponed. On Monday, makers shared the new poster featuring Richa in a different avatar with a gun in her hand and sporting red saree with purple glasses. While speaking about Shakeela's popularity, the director said, "The Malayalam film circuit was dominated by male actors when Shakeela entered the scene. She rose in popularity as her films would run for 100 days in every centre in south India. The superstars started feeling threatened. Eventually, due to backlash, her films were censored and she had to return her advances to many producers; she had to go back to her one-room apartment. Through the film, we'll show what a woman goes through in a male-dominated industry." The movie also stars Pankaj Tripathi and Malayalam actor Rajeev Pillai. Also read: Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her

Richa Chadha's biopic film 'Shakeela' to hit theatres on Christmas 2020

<p>In what could well be one of the most defining commercial roles of her career, Richa Chadha headlining the biopic based on the life of South star Shakeela was easily amongst the most awaited films of the year. Helmed by Indrajit Lankesh, the film is now complete. It explores the life of the controversial Shakeela, who was a massive adult star. The film also critiques the male-dominated star system of the southern industry in the 90s.</p>

<p>If trade buzz is anything to go by, the makers are in talks with a leading OTT platform to explore the option of a direct digital release. With the pandemic resulting in a nationwide theatre shut down, waiting for a theatrical release isn't in the best interest of the invested parties. Incidentally, Shakeela was looking at launching their theatrical trailer in March-end, while the release was slated for July</p>

<p>A source informs, "The film already had a digital exhibitor and thus, they are the first party to approach. The chances of theatres opening soon look bleak. Keeping that in mind, the producers have initiated discussions with OTT platforms."</p>

<p>The film also stars Pankaj Tripathi in a key role.</p>


In what could well be one of the most defining commercial roles of her career, Richa Chadha headlining the biopic based on the life of South star Shakeela was easily amongst the most awaited films of the year.

In what could well be one of the most defining commercial roles of her career, Richa Chadha headlining the biopic based on the life of South star Shakeela was easily amongst the most awaited films of the year. Helmed by Indrajit Lankesh, the film is now complete. It explores the life of the controversial Shakeela, who was a massive adult star. The film also critiques the male-dominated star system of the southern industry in the 90s. If trade buzz is anything to go by, the makers are in talks with a leading OTT platform to explore the option of a direct digital release. With the pandemic resulting in a nationwide theatre shut down, waiting for a theatrical release isn't in the best interest of the invested parties. Incidentally, Shakeela was looking at launching their theatrical trailer in March-end, while the release was slated for July A source informs, "The film already had a digital exhibitor and thus, they are the first party to approach. The chances of theatres opening soon look bleak. Keeping that in mind, the producers have initiated discussions with OTT platforms." The film also stars Pankaj Tripathi in a key role.

Richa Chadha's 'Shakeela' headed for an OTT release?

<p>When Vidya Balan portrayed Silk Smitha in the 2012 film The Dirty Picture, many scoffed as to why was there a need to make a film on a B-grade actress in the first place. Apart from being one of the best films of that year, with a stellar performance by Balan, The Dirty Picture also threw light on the murky business of cinema.</p>

<p>Silk was a star in her own right, had a considerable amount of fan following even yet was never considered an A-lister. Similar to Silk was the career trajectory of Malayalam star Shakeela. As Richa Chadha gears up to play Shakeela, the actress, who ruled the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu film industry in the 90s, here are some lesser known details about her.</p>

<p>Born as C Shakeela Begum in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh to a lower-middle class family, Shakeela had a difficult life while growing up. Her father did meagre jobs to make ends meet and she was part of a large family of six siblings-&nbsp; which is why Shakeela decided to drop out of school at an early age to earn for her family.</p>

<p>Shakeela’s initial earnings were low and did not help to support the family. A voluptuous teenager, she got compliments about her body and her face which made her try her hand at modelling and B-grade films. Calling Silk her inspiration, Shakeela modelled her career like her and started doing soft-porn, B-grade films.</p>

<p>Her initial films did not do too well. It was early 80s and Silk already ruled the hearts of millions with her sensual roles and Shakeela was almost overlooked.</p>

<p>She made her adult debut in the movie ‘Play Girls.’ She played the role of a young sex addict and the younger sister of the character played by Silk Smitha, in the same movie. The film made people sit up and take notice of Shakeela, despite the presence of Silk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakeela’s rise to stardom came when Silk’s career was dipping. While roles and film offers came in plenty for Shakeela, most did not want to pay her. She reportedly worked for free for many filmmakers in order to become a familiar face in B-grade films.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakeela’s got a breakthrough in her career with a soft-core film called, Kinnarathumbikal in 2000. Made in Malayalam, the film was so popular that it was dubbed in more than six languages.</p>

<p>While over the years, Shakeela has tried to do family oriented roles, it's her image as an adult film actress that has been the most popular.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While she has a huge fan following across Asia as some of her films have been dubbed in other Asian languages as well, not much is known of her personal life, which is why a biopic around the enigma of Shakeela will help in throwing light to her life, and her struggles.</p>

<p>In a career spanning over three decades, Shakeela has been linked to several actors and filmmakers but there has never been any official confirmation about her marital status.</p>


Born as C Shakeela Begum in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh to a lower-middle class family, Shakeela had a difficult life while growing up.

When Vidya Balan portrayed Silk Smitha in the 2012 film The Dirty Picture, many scoffed as to why was there a need to make a film on a B-grade actress in the first place. Apart from being one of the best films of that year, with a stellar performance by Balan, The Dirty Picture also threw light on the murky business of cinema. Silk was a star in her own right, had a considerable amount of fan following even yet was never considered an A-lister. Similar to Silk was the career trajectory of Malayalam star Shakeela. As Richa Chadha gears up to play Shakeela, the actress, who ruled the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu film industry in the 90s, here are some lesser known details about her. Born as C Shakeela Begum in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh to a lower-middle class family, Shakeela had a difficult life while growing up. Her father did meagre jobs to make ends meet and she was part of a large family of six siblings- which is why Shakeela decided to drop out of school at an early age to earn for her family. Shakeela’s initial earnings were low and did not help to support the family. A voluptuous teenager, she got compliments about her body and her face which made her try her hand at modelling and B-grade films. Calling Silk her inspiration, Shakeela modelled her career like her and started doing soft-porn, B-grade films. Her initial films did not do too well. It was early 80s and Silk already ruled the hearts of millions with her sensual roles and Shakeela was almost overlooked. She made her adult debut in the movie ‘Play Girls.’ She played the role of a young sex addict and the younger sister of the character played by Silk Smitha, in the same movie. The film made people sit up and take notice of Shakeela, despite the presence of Silk. Shakeela’s rise to stardom came when Silk’s career was dipping. While roles and film offers came in plenty for Shakeela, most did not want to pay her. She reportedly worked for free for many filmmakers in order to become a familiar face in B-grade films. Shakeela’s got a breakthrough in her career with a soft-core film called, Kinnarathumbikal in 2000. Made in Malayalam, the film was so popular that it was dubbed in more than six languages. While over the years, Shakeela has tried to do family oriented roles, it's her image as an adult film actress that has been the most popular. While she has a huge fan following across Asia as some of her films have been dubbed in other Asian languages as well, not much is known of her personal life, which is why a biopic around the enigma of Shakeela will help in throwing light to her life, and her struggles. In a career spanning over three decades, Shakeela has been linked to several actors and filmmakers but there has never been any official confirmation about her marital status.

Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her

<p>Richa Chadha’s ‘Shakeela’ released another poster for the film as it asks people to raise a toast in the name of the former South Indian star who got famous for her bold roles in adult films. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shakeela-poster-richa-chadha-shimmers-in-gold-in-the-first-look-of-the-film-178374">See the first poster!</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/richa-chadhas-shakeela-pays-homage-to-legendary-silk-smitha-in-this-way-179474"><em>Also read:&nbsp;Richa Chadha's 'Shakeela' pays homage to legendary Silk Smitha in this way!</em></a></p>

<p>The poster released will remind you of the glossy 90s era as Richa is seen inside of a glass bearing some alcohol.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HAVE A GREAT YEAR! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2019ShakeelaKeNaam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2019ShakeelaKeNaam</a> ! <a href="https://t.co/q7u5dOLmNt">pic.twitter.com/q7u5dOLmNt</a></p>
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1080363117853532161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>‘Shakeela’ is a biographical drama that is based on the life of the star with the same name.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the film, director Indrajit Lankesh had earlier said, "I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela. I was immensely impressed with her on-screen and off-screen personality. I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela."</p>

<p>One an earlier occasion, actress Richa also said, "She was a brave soul who defied the norms of the business during her time and her story was much more than what people know of. To essay, the role of a living being is additional responsibility on me as actor and team as the makers of the film."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Produced by Sammy's Magic Cinema and Yoddhas Entertainment, the film also stars <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shakeela-biopic-pankaj-tripathis-look-from-the-film-revealed-170387">Pankaj Tripathi </a>in a key role and is set to hit the screens in summer, 2019. &nbsp;</p>


Richa Chadha’s ‘Shakeela’ released another poster for the film as it asks people to raise a toast in the name of the former South Indian star who got famous for her bold roles in adult films.

Richa Chadha’s ‘Shakeela’ released another poster for the film as it asks people to raise a toast in the name of the former South Indian star who got famous for her bold roles in adult films. See the first poster! Also read: Richa Chadha's 'Shakeela' pays homage to legendary Silk Smitha in this way! The poster released will remind you of the glossy 90s era as Richa is seen inside of a glass bearing some alcohol. HAVE A GREAT YEAR! #2019ShakeelaKeNaam ! pic.twitter.com/q7u5dOLmNt — TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 2, 2019 × ‘Shakeela’ is a biographical drama that is based on the life of the star with the same name. Talking about the film, director Indrajit Lankesh had earlier said, "I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela. I was immensely impressed with her on-screen and off-screen personality. I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela." One an earlier occasion, actress Richa also said, "She was a brave soul who defied the norms of the business during her time and her story was much more than what people know of. To essay, the role of a living being is additional responsibility on me as actor and team as the makers of the film." Produced by Sammy's Magic Cinema and Yoddhas Entertainment, the film also stars Pankaj Tripathi in a key role and is set to hit the screens in summer, 2019.

New poster of 'Shakeela' biopic starring Richa Chadha wants you to raise the new year toast to her name!

<p>Richa Chadha’s next film ‘Shakeela’ has piqued the interest of many fans with the first poster of the film teasing quite a few details about her look in the film. Standing decked in gold all over her body against the backdrop of a wall that has curses and abuses written all over it, Richa looks like a woman who means business. She’s fierce, she knows what she wants and she has no qualms about anything!</p>

<p>With the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shakeela-poster-richa-chadha-shimmers-in-gold-in-the-first-look-of-the-film-178374">first poster of the film</a> amassing praise on the social media, it has been revealed where the look has been inspired from. We have information that the look in the poster has been inspired from a classic image of not Shakeela (who was a South Indian sensation) but from another legendary actress Silk Smitha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not many would understand why a poster of one actress would be inspired from another, but the reason behind it is even more interesting! The poster’s look actually pays homage to Silk Smitha, who makers feel was responsible, even if partially, for Shakeela’s rise in fame. The makers wanted to pay a homage to Silk as her untimely tragic demise led to the rise of Shakeela’s popularity and had it not been for Silk to pave the way with her unapologetic choices, Shakeela wouldn’t have been so popular.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Post Silk’s death, Shakeela rose to extreme levels of stardom becoming highly successful. She was the only actress of her time whose films were not just dubbed in South Indian languages but were dubbed in 16 languages globally including Nepali, Chinese, Sinhalese, Russian amongst others.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/features/who-is-shakeela-and-why-is-a-biopic-starring-richa-chadha-being-made-on-her%0D%0A-116151"><em>Also read:&nbsp;Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her</em></a></p>

<p>Commenting on the same, Richa who plays the lead said, “Silk Smitha was an iconic name in the 90s whose popularity knew no bounds. She created a genre in cinema which didn’t exist and empowered many women with her unapologetic choices. Her films made in a lot of money at the box office. Unfortunately, she had a tragic untimely death and her demise lead to the rise of Shakeela’s popularity. Thus when we as a team brainstormed on the references for the Shoot, we came across the iconic poster of Silk’s film and we wanted to do a homage to her. Because hadn’t it been for Silk, Shakeela wouldn’t have had such phenomenal popularity.”</p>

<p>The look is inspired from a magazine cover that Silk Smitha posed for, covered only in gold jewellery. Silk Smitha was called Miss Pamela on the cover.&nbsp;</p>


Richa Chadha’s next film ‘Shakeela’ has piqued the interest of many fans with the first poster of the film teasing quite a few details about her look in the film.

Richa Chadha’s next film ‘Shakeela’ has piqued the interest of many fans with the first poster of the film teasing quite a few details about her look in the film. Standing decked in gold all over her body against the backdrop of a wall that has curses and abuses written all over it, Richa looks like a woman who means business. She’s fierce, she knows what she wants and she has no qualms about anything! With the first poster of the film amassing praise on the social media, it has been revealed where the look has been inspired from. We have information that the look in the poster has been inspired from a classic image of not Shakeela (who was a South Indian sensation) but from another legendary actress Silk Smitha. Not many would understand why a poster of one actress would be inspired from another, but the reason behind it is even more interesting! The poster’s look actually pays homage to Silk Smitha, who makers feel was responsible, even if partially, for Shakeela’s rise in fame. The makers wanted to pay a homage to Silk as her untimely tragic demise led to the rise of Shakeela’s popularity and had it not been for Silk to pave the way with her unapologetic choices, Shakeela wouldn’t have been so popular. Post Silk’s death, Shakeela rose to extreme levels of stardom becoming highly successful. She was the only actress of her time whose films were not just dubbed in South Indian languages but were dubbed in 16 languages globally including Nepali, Chinese, Sinhalese, Russian amongst others. Also read: Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her Commenting on the same, Richa who plays the lead said, “Silk Smitha was an iconic name in the 90s whose popularity knew no bounds. She created a genre in cinema which didn’t exist and empowered many women with her unapologetic choices. Her films made in a lot of money at the box office. Unfortunately, she had a tragic untimely death and her demise lead to the rise of Shakeela’s popularity. Thus when we as a team brainstormed on the references for the Shoot, we came across the iconic poster of Silk’s film and we wanted to do a homage to her. Because hadn’t it been for Silk, Shakeela wouldn’t have had such phenomenal popularity.” The look is inspired from a magazine cover that Silk Smitha posed for, covered only in gold jewellery. Silk Smitha was called Miss Pamela on the cover.

Richa Chadha's 'Shakeela' pays homage to legendary Silk Smitha in this way!

<p>The first poster of 'Shakeela' featuring Richa Chadha is out! Based on adult star Shakeela's life, who dominated the screen in the 1980s and 1990s, the film features Chadha in the titular role.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though Shakeela was known primarily for her roles in adult films, her phenomenal success made her several enemies and said to have caused ripples in the male-dominated industry of that time. She was an unlikely superstar whose films were translated into foreign languages like Chinese and Russian in her prime. Her box office was often responsible for helping cinema halls survive in B and C towns in the South.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first look poster of the film has Richa Chadha covered in authentic gold jewellery , which is a staple element of glamour in Kerala- the state Shakeela belongs to.</p>

<p><img alt="The official poster of 'Shakeela'. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="998bf66f-c4ff-44fb-af08-06742dd47ebd" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/shakeela%20poster.jpg" /></p>

<p>In the poster, the actress stands defiant in the face of the insults that are scribbled on the wall behind her. The slurs refer to her skin colour, body and religious faith along with some obscene illustrations that have been scratched out. Looks like the director Indrajit Lankesh is cautious and doesn’t want to be accused of ‘whitewashing’ the truth as had happened in the case of a recent biopics. Despite it all, Shakeela meets your eye, looking into the lens with confidence. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/features/who-is-shakeela-and-why-is-a-biopic-starring-richa-chadha-being-made-on-her%0D%0A-116151">Also read:&nbsp;Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her</a></p>

<p>The film which has been produced by Magic Cinemas and Yoddhas Entertainment is now all set to release in Summer 2019.</p>


The first poster of 'Shakeela' featuring Richa Chadha is out! Based on adult star Shakeela's life, who dominated the screen in the 1980s and 1990s, the film features Chadha in the titular role.

The first poster of 'Shakeela' featuring Richa Chadha is out! Based on adult star Shakeela's life, who dominated the screen in the 1980s and 1990s, the film features Chadha in the titular role. Even though Shakeela was known primarily for her roles in adult films, her phenomenal success made her several enemies and said to have caused ripples in the male-dominated industry of that time. She was an unlikely superstar whose films were translated into foreign languages like Chinese and Russian in her prime. Her box office was often responsible for helping cinema halls survive in B and C towns in the South. The first look poster of the film has Richa Chadha covered in authentic gold jewellery , which is a staple element of glamour in Kerala- the state Shakeela belongs to. In the poster, the actress stands defiant in the face of the insults that are scribbled on the wall behind her. The slurs refer to her skin colour, body and religious faith along with some obscene illustrations that have been scratched out. Looks like the director Indrajit Lankesh is cautious and doesn’t want to be accused of ‘whitewashing’ the truth as had happened in the case of a recent biopics. Despite it all, Shakeela meets your eye, looking into the lens with confidence. Also read: Who is Shakeela and why is a biopic starring Richa Chadha being made on her The film which has been produced by Magic Cinemas and Yoddhas Entertainment is now all set to release in Summer 2019.

'Shakeela' poster: Richa Chadha shimmers in gold in the first look of the film

<p>Director Indrajit Lankesh has roped in Shakeela, the biggest South -Indian adult film star of the 90s to play a cameo role in a biopic based on her life. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Richa Chadha, who plays Shakeela in the film, has already started shooting for the film which also co-stars Pankaj Tripathi. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
To prepare for her role, Chadha has done several rounds of meetings with Shakeela, to get a better comprehension of the character she is required to play. Now, the director, impressed by the bonding of the two actresses has roped in real Shakeela for a cameo role in the movie. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking about the new addition in the cast, director Indrajit Lankesh said, “I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela, I was immensely impressed with her onscreen and offscreen personality. I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela. She has been an integral part of the making of this film and she has given us such detailed insights into her life. Even Richa got to spend time with her, understand her style of talking, her body language and such nuances. In fact, when she came on set, she gave us very interesting insights like about art direction and how her house was and is in real life, such small details which have helped us. It was nice shooting her for Shakeela biopic, though I have shot with her before for my another film in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her I met her and realised my dream.I feel every woman and girl who wants t be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags to riches to rags story of her life”.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpgtYHlg37l/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">She'll drive you crazy - but #WhoIsShakeela? Hold tight, you'll get to know soon.</a></p>

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<p>For those coming in late, Shakeela Khan was a big name in the southern film industry in the late '80s and early 1990s.<br />
<br />
Her popularity was such that including her in films would change the fortune of the film and its producer.<br />
<br />
When a film starring Shakeela released, other filmmakers would push back the release of their films fearing loss at the box office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakeela biopic, which is yet to be titled, is set to release in 2019.&nbsp;</p>


Director Indrajit Lankesh has roped in Shakeela, the biggest South -Indian adult film star of the 90s to play a cameo role in a biopic based on her life. Richa Chadha, who plays Shakeela in the film, has already started shooting for the film which also co-stars Pankaj Tripathi.

Director Indrajit Lankesh has roped in Shakeela, the biggest South -Indian adult film star of the 90s to play a cameo role in a biopic based on her life. Richa Chadha, who plays Shakeela in the film, has already started shooting for the film which also co-stars Pankaj Tripathi. To prepare for her role, Chadha has done several rounds of meetings with Shakeela, to get a better comprehension of the character she is required to play. Now, the director, impressed by the bonding of the two actresses has roped in real Shakeela for a cameo role in the movie. Speaking about the new addition in the cast, director Indrajit Lankesh said, “I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela, I was immensely impressed with her onscreen and offscreen personality. I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela. She has been an integral part of the making of this film and she has given us such detailed insights into her life. Even Richa got to spend time with her, understand her style of talking, her body language and such nuances. In fact, when she came on set, she gave us very interesting insights like about art direction and how her house was and is in real life, such small details which have helped us. It was nice shooting her for Shakeela biopic, though I have shot with her before for my another film in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her I met her and realised my dream.I feel every woman and girl who wants t be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags to riches to rags story of her life”. View this post on Instagram She'll drive you crazy - but #WhoIsShakeela? Hold tight, you'll get to know soon. A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha) on Oct 29, 2018 at 1:55am PDT × For those coming in late, Shakeela Khan was a big name in the southern film industry in the late '80s and early 1990s. Her popularity was such that including her in films would change the fortune of the film and its producer. When a film starring Shakeela released, other filmmakers would push back the release of their films fearing loss at the box office. Shakeela biopic, which is yet to be titled, is set to release in 2019.

Shakeela roped in for a cameo role in her biopic featuring Richa Chadha

<p>Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade. Richa Chadha is going to play Shakeela in the untitled biopic while Pankaj Tripathi plays a prominent role.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The actor for the first time ever will be seen as the overdramatic hero of the 90s, an era where films were massy and heroes were idolized because of their over the top style. In the film the 'Newton' actor who plays an actor/producer will be seen rocking not just the outfits like bell bottomed pants, multicoloured shirts and shoes but will take on the role of being a rambunctious hero who is overconfident, talented and knows he will get the girl.<br />
<br />
When asked Pankaj he said, "Its a role of a commercial superstar from the south film industry. When director Indrajit Lankesh narrated me the story, I was asked to visit Bangalore, Karnataka for the costume trial since the unit was from the south. After reaching Bangalore and seeing the costume I was in two minds and questioned myself whether I'll be able to carry such a colourfull dress. My character was supposed to behave larger than life like a south Indian commercial hero."</p>

<p>Tripathi revealed how he was nervous shooting a dance sequence. "I am supposed to dance with the heroine. I was scared on the first day of the shoot. Normally I don't see monitor after giving the shots, later in the evening when I checked one of the scenes I was surprised to see to myself how did I managed to pull these shots dancing with the heroine in swimming pool. It was quite convincing for me and didn't look fake at all. It is an interesting role and it was too fun playing the part and I really enjoyed the process from the second day onwards. I always wanted to dance and do some action in the film, the role of a superstar travelling in huge cars. My character is unpredictable in the film and audience will be surprised to see me in the role the way I am surprised to see myself in this role," the actor added.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Tripathi was last seen in 'Stree' which earned great reviews and was a box office hit.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
After seeing Pankaj Tripathi play the meek panditji and nerdy, Rudra, it will be fantastic to watch him transform into a 90s hero.<br />
<br />
Shakeela is a directorial venture by Indrajit Lankesh and will release in 2019.&nbsp;</p>


Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade.

Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade. Richa Chadha is going to play Shakeela in the untitled biopic while Pankaj Tripathi plays a prominent role. The actor for the first time ever will be seen as the overdramatic hero of the 90s, an era where films were massy and heroes were idolized because of their over the top style. In the film the 'Newton' actor who plays an actor/producer will be seen rocking not just the outfits like bell bottomed pants, multicoloured shirts and shoes but will take on the role of being a rambunctious hero who is overconfident, talented and knows he will get the girl. When asked Pankaj he said, "Its a role of a commercial superstar from the south film industry. When director Indrajit Lankesh narrated me the story, I was asked to visit Bangalore, Karnataka for the costume trial since the unit was from the south. After reaching Bangalore and seeing the costume I was in two minds and questioned myself whether I'll be able to carry such a colourfull dress. My character was supposed to behave larger than life like a south Indian commercial hero." Tripathi revealed how he was nervous shooting a dance sequence. "I am supposed to dance with the heroine. I was scared on the first day of the shoot. Normally I don't see monitor after giving the shots, later in the evening when I checked one of the scenes I was surprised to see to myself how did I managed to pull these shots dancing with the heroine in swimming pool. It was quite convincing for me and didn't look fake at all. It is an interesting role and it was too fun playing the part and I really enjoyed the process from the second day onwards. I always wanted to dance and do some action in the film, the role of a superstar travelling in huge cars. My character is unpredictable in the film and audience will be surprised to see me in the role the way I am surprised to see myself in this role," the actor added. Tripathi was last seen in 'Stree' which earned great reviews and was a box office hit. After seeing Pankaj Tripathi play the meek panditji and nerdy, Rudra, it will be fantastic to watch him transform into a 90s hero. Shakeela is a directorial venture by Indrajit Lankesh and will release in 2019.

Shakeela biopic: Pankaj Tripathi's look from the film revealed

<p>When Vidya Balan portrayed Silk Smitha in the 2012 film The Dirty Picture, many scoffed as to why was there a need to make a film on a B-grade actress in the first place. Apart from being one of the best films of that year, with a stellar performance by Balan, The Dirty Picture also threw light on the murky business of cinema.</p>

<p>Silk was a star in her own right, had a considerable amount of fan following even yet was never considered an A-lister. Similar to Silk was the career trajectory of Malayalam star Shakeela. As Richa Chadha gears up to play Shakeela, the actress, who ruled the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu film industry in the 90s, here are some lesser known details about her.</p>

<p>Born as C Shakeela Begum in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh to a lower-middle class family, Shakeela had a difficult life while growing up. Her father did meager jobs to make ends meet and she was part of a large family of six siblings-&nbsp; which is why Shakeela decided to drop out of school at an early age to earn for her family.</p>

<p>Shakeela&rsquo;s initial earnings were low and did not help to support the family. A voluptuous teenager, she got compliments about her body and her face which made her try her hand at modeling and B-grade films. Calling Silk her inspiration, Shakeela modeled her career like her and started doing soft-porn, B-grade films.</p>

<p>Her initial films did not do too well. It was early 80s and Silk already ruled the hearts of millions with her sensual roles and Shakeela was almost overlooked.</p>

<p>She made her adult debut in the movie &lsquo;Play Girls.&rsquo; She played the role of a young sex addict and the younger sister of the character played by Silk Smitha, in the same movie. The film made people sit up and take notice of Shakeela, despite the presence of Silk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakeela&rsquo;s rise to stardom came when Silk&rsquo;s career was dipping. While roles and film offers came in plenty for Shakeela, most did not want to pay her. She reportedly worked for free for many filmmakers in order to become a familiar face in B-grade films.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shakeela&rsquo;s got a breakthrough in her career with a soft-core film called, Kinnarathumbikal in 2000. Made in Malayalam, the film was so popular that it was dubbed in more than six languages.</p>

<p>While over the years, Shakeela has tried to do family oriented roles, it&#39;s her image as an adult film actress that has been the most popular.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While she has a huge fan following across Asia as some of her films have been dubbed in other Asian languages as well, not much is known of her personal life, which is why a biopic around the enigma of Shakeela will help in throwing light to her life, and her struggles.</p>

<p>In a career spanning over three decades, Shakeela has been linked to several actors and filmmakers but there has never been any official confirmation about her marital status.</p>


Similar to Silk was the career trajectory of Malayalam star Shakeela. Richa Chadha gears up to play Shakeela, the actress, who ruled the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu film industry in the 90s

When Vidya Balan portrayed Silk Smitha in the 2012 film The Dirty Picture, many scoffed as to why was there a need to make a film on a B-grade actress in the first place. Apart from being one of the best films of that year, with a stellar performance by Balan, The Dirty Picture also threw light on the murky business of cinema. Silk was a star in her own right, had a considerable amount of fan following even yet was never considered an A-lister. Similar to Silk was the career trajectory of Malayalam star Shakeela. As Richa Chadha gears up to play Shakeela, the actress, who ruled the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu film industry in the 90s, here are some lesser known details about her. Born as C Shakeela Begum in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh to a lower-middle class family, Shakeela had a difficult life while growing up. Her father did meager jobs to make ends meet and she was part of a large family of six siblings- which is why Shakeela decided to drop out of school at an early age to earn for her family. Shakeela’s initial earnings were low and did not help to support the family. A voluptuous teenager, she got compliments about her body and her face which made her try her hand at modeling and B-grade films. Calling Silk her inspiration, Shakeela modeled her career like her and started doing soft-porn, B-grade films. Her initial films did not do too well. It was early 80s and Silk already ruled the hearts of millions with her sensual roles and Shakeela was almost overlooked. She made her adult debut in the movie ‘Play Girls.’ She played the role of a young sex addict and the younger sister of the character played by Silk Smitha, in the same movie. The film made people sit up and take notice of Shakeela, despite the presence of Silk. Shakeela’s rise to stardom came when Silk’s career was dipping. While roles and film offers came in plenty for Shakeela, most did not want to pay her. She reportedly worked for free for many filmmakers in order to become a familiar face in B-grade films. Shakeela’s got a breakthrough in her career with a soft-core film called, Kinnarathumbikal in 2000. Made in Malayalam, the film was so popular that it was dubbed in more than six languages. While over the years, Shakeela has tried to do family oriented roles, it's her image as an adult film actress that has been the most popular. While she has a huge fan following across Asia as some of her films have been dubbed in other Asian languages as well, not much is known of her personal life, which is why a biopic around the enigma of Shakeela will help in throwing light to her life, and her struggles. In a career spanning over three decades, Shakeela has been linked to several actors and filmmakers but there has never been any official confirmation about her marital status.

<p>Looks like Richa Chadha is all set to follow Vidya Balan&#39;s footsteps. The <em>Fukrey</em>&nbsp;star will soon be playing Shakeela&#39;s character in an upcoming biopic. &nbsp;An adult film star, Shakeela was a popular name in Kerala film industry back in the 90&#39;s. She also acted in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films.<br />
<br />
The biopic with Richa playing the central character will tell the tale of Shakeela from when she entered the film business at the age of 16 and trace her life journey from there.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Shakeela was an instant success at the Box Office and had a huge fan base. Her films weren&rsquo;t only dubbed in languages across India but also were dubbed languages Chinese, Nepalese and several others. Shakeela became a popular figure in the film business at a time when men dominated the box office and commanded such hysteria from fans.<br />
<br />
Richa&#39;s spokesperson stated, &quot;The film is the story of Shakeela, one of the most famous actors from Malayalam cinema from the 90s who rose to a spectacular amount of fame. Her fans were spread across Asia and she earned fanfare as a woman which back then was unheard of. The film&#39;s script was exciting and is a great story to tell and the story will make for a great watch for the audience. The preparations will begin soon and the film should be going on floors in end April or May.&quot;<br />
<br />
The film is being directed by Indrajit Lankesh and will go on floors this April and will release early 2019.<br />
<br />
Vidya Balan Silk Smitha act in <em>The Dirty Picture</em> is still remembered as one of the actress&#39;&nbsp;career&#39;s best. Not only is the film considered a cult, but it also managed to bring Silk Smitha&#39;s story to the mainstream. Will Richa Chadha also be able to do the same with Shakeela&#39;s biopic? Guess, we will have to wait and watch.&nbsp;</p>


Chadha has given her nod to play Shakeela on screen.

Looks like Richa Chadha is all set to follow Vidya Balan's footsteps. The Fukrey star will soon be playing Shakeela's character in an upcoming biopic. An adult film star, Shakeela was a popular name in Kerala film industry back in the 90's. She also acted in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. The biopic with Richa playing the central character will tell the tale of Shakeela from when she entered the film business at the age of 16 and trace her life journey from there. Shakeela was an instant success at the Box Office and had a huge fan base. Her films weren’t only dubbed in languages across India but also were dubbed languages Chinese, Nepalese and several others. Shakeela became a popular figure in the film business at a time when men dominated the box office and commanded such hysteria from fans. Richa's spokesperson stated, "The film is the story of Shakeela, one of the most famous actors from Malayalam cinema from the 90s who rose to a spectacular amount of fame. Her fans were spread across Asia and she earned fanfare as a woman which back then was unheard of. The film's script was exciting and is a great story to tell and the story will make for a great watch for the audience. The preparations will begin soon and the film should be going on floors in end April or May." The film is being directed by Indrajit Lankesh and will go on floors this April and will release early 2019. Vidya Balan Silk Smitha act in The Dirty Picture is still remembered as one of the actress' career's best. Not only is the film considered a cult, but it also managed to bring Silk Smitha's story to the mainstream. Will Richa Chadha also be able to do the same with Shakeela's biopic? Guess, we will have to wait and watch.

Richa Chadha to play Malayalam adult film star Shakeela in a new biopic

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