Shama Sikander is an Indian actress who is best remembered for her lead role in the TV series Yeh Meri Life Hai (2003-2005). She has acted in several television serials and is also known as a TV program host and a reality show contestant. On the big screen, she has appeared in a few Bollywood movies, including the Aamir Khan starrer Mann in 1999.
Sikander is also active as a fashion model, and she launched her own design company, Saisha, in 2010.
With her latest web series, Ab Dil Ki Sunn, grabbing a lot of eyeballs, Shama truly has a lot up on her sleeve. Women Fitness spoke to the actor about her lifestyle and her passion for acting.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You made your debut with the Aamir Khan starrer Mann in 1999 and are best remembered for your lead role in the TV series Yeh Meri Life Hai. What factors led to your venture in acting scene?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
My father wanted to me to become an actor. He thought I’d be good in it as he was aware of my activities in drama and dance in my school and I was always the centre of attention so when he shifted to Mumbai, he got to meet many film personalities and was invited to many big parties and he got extremely attracted to the glamour and glitz and thought I could become an actress and enjoy the same lifestyle, little did we know about the struggles to follow in pursuit of his dream which became my dream because I loved my father and I wanted to make him proud. And from that on we started meeting people, going from one office to another and I landed up in my first feature film Prem Aggan directed and produced by Mr. Feroz Khan and rest is history.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You had once commented “fitness has always been an integral part of my daily routine … I ensure that I work out everyday [sic] for at least an hour … [I] eat right and think positive.”. Define your fitness routine. Share 3 things that are instrumental in maintaining a fit body?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Yes I remember saying that I do…. I still follow the same. The only difference is now my awareness has increased, so my workouts and my foods have changed. I even now workout everyday for an hour at least and nowadays I have started learning a few new things such as Kathak, hip hop dance and some hardcore strengthening exercises to make me stronger so that takes up a lot of my time. This year I have devoted myself to new learnings and accepting change wholeheartedly.
The three things that I’d say are instrumental to maintaining my body are 1) proper mental health 2) good sound sleep 3) meditation, when all these three things are in place then rest anything you want to do happens on its own. A good mental health gives me clear dreams and desires, a good sleep gives me focus and energy to fulfil those dreams and desires and a good amount of meditation gives me more and more awareness of myself, it helps me forgive myself and others and makes me more compassionate which is extremely important to be healthy in true and every sense.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness Org
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
List 5 females who inspire you to be fit.
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Jeniffer Lopez, Jeniffer Lawrence, Jacqueline Fernandez, myself.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Healthy eating is a habit. With a hectic work routine, which involves a lot of travelling, how do you manage to eat healthy? Share your 5 favourite Indian dishes and 2 picks in a restaurant.
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Yes it is very difficult but now it’s getting a bit better with a lot of healthy food options available in many restaurants. I usually pack my food from home and take it along with me when I’m in Mumbai, if I’m traveling then too I like to carry my healthy snack like nuts or almond cookies with me because it’s mostly the snacks that we end up eating wrong as for the proper meals you still can manage to find healthy options like chicken or fish or if you are a vegetarian then a lot of salads and lentils are available . My five most favorite indian dishes are 1) daal chaval 2) Biriyani 3) moong daal ka halwa 4) rasmalai 5) kulfi 🤦🏻♀️ All are super fattening but I love them.
Two of my most favorite places to go in Mumbai are POH in Kamala Mills and Bombay Salad & Co. in Bandra. Love the food there.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
After a hectic day of shoot, how do you relax and rejuvenate?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
I sleeeeepppp…. I looooove sleeping. Going to spa’s, pampering myself. Or sometimes I just meditate at home and chill in my pjs and watch Netflix.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have worked in a number of shows and hosted many, and have now entered the digital space too. Describe your journey as an actress? Where do you see yourself as an actor, in perhaps, the next 5 years?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Yes I have. It has been an incredible journey so far and I’m only excited for the time to come in future, I’m excited and want to see what I’m able to achieve with this awareness and compassion and knowledge that I have been blessed with all my life. I enjoyed TV it gave me a lot and I’m grateful to the medium and people for giving me all the love and understanding. When I got tired and couldn’t commit to anymore projects on TV I stopped, because I like to be honest and fully committed to whatever I do in life and when I can’t I don’t like to drag. I know it’s time to move on and let go.
Nowadays I’m thoroughly enjoying the web, so much to do, so real and interesting, so many different, new opportunities that I had never thought would exist a few years back, when I got bored of doing TV as it wasn’t going anywhere it was stagnant and regressive in my opinion I’m so grateful that web has now given us so much to do. So many good actors were sitting at home for the longest time because they didn’t want to do what was being made in the market. I’m also doing films now so that’s even more exciting. This year I signed A Neal Nitin Mukesh production “Bypass road” as one of the leads. Its a multi star-cast film, I’ve already started shooting for it and very excited for it to hit the cinemas soon this year.
In the next five years, I see myself doing everything that the existence has made me for to the fullest and becoming a master of it. I see myself full filling the ultimate goal of the universe that it has for me, without any delays or doubts.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With International Yoga Day coming up, tell us the best part about being a yoga student?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
I am not really a yoga student honestly. I used to do a lot of yoga before but now honestly I’m not doing it much for some reason although I love it and I’d love to start again. It is beautiful. It pushes you to find the best in you and stretch to the unlimited zone. It teaches you how limitless you are and what wonders your body and mind and consciousness can perform. It teaches you the value of your being just by breathing right amd fully. So simple yet challenging. I’d like to tell everyone to do yoga everyday without fail and with that I’d like to start it everyday too. Happy yoga day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2016, you had talked about suffering from depression and bipolar disorder for the first time. Since then, you have been quite vocal about your struggles which is a very commendable step. How do you wish to help or what would be your advice to people who are struggling with mental health issues?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Thank you. Yes I have been very vocal about a lot of things because I learned that the biggest problem with us humans is no communication, no one expresses how they feel from inside. Everyone is just taught to live in the lies and they die with them too. It’s very sad that so many people cannot enjoy the simple joys of life and the depth that comes with it. They die with superficial experiences. I’m grateful that I went through something so deep that cannot be expressed properly in any language. It can only be felt deep deep deep within. If you manage to go through it, it turns you into such a beautiful masterpiece. It turns you into something you were meant to be and not what the world has taught you to be!
I always talk about this I realized that communication is the biggest key in solving depression as a lot of us suffering through any mental disorder are facing so much because they cannot communicate well or are afraid to in some way or the other. That’s why I started talking about my story so as many people will read they’ll know that there is hope because you lose all hope and you don’t even know if it exists anymore for you until you have managed to come out of it. Unfortunately a lot of people give up. And I don’t blame them. It is extremely difficult to live with this burden and hope and no light only deep darkness till you can see or feel.
I also made a series of a few short films from my home production SHAMASIKANDERFILMS YouTube channel. The series is called “Ab Dil Ki Sunn” people can watch them anytime they have and they are helping many in need and the ones who are close to people who are suffering through any mental disorder these are very simple films with simple messages which will help everyone in their day to day life and that will change a lot. I urge people to watch the films and share as much as possible. I also go to colleges to talk to students and make them aware. I’m also working on opening my organization to help people suffering. And I wish to do a lot more in coming years, the best I can in anyway possible.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With a massive following of over 1 million followers on your Instagram account @shamasikander, what according to you are the best and worst things about these social media platforms?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
Well I think the best is that you see how many people love you as an artist and it helps you maintain your stardom nowadays, its all about numbers unfortunately. The best thing I would say it gives me a chance to connect with my genuine fans on a personal level. They get to see the real me without anyone else’s words but my own. And the worst is that it has made people addicted. If you don’t get likes people are falling into depression!! Some People write anything to get the actors attention or just to have fun and they don’t realize what impact it can have on other people’s lives and minds!! They constantly judge you like it’s their birth right hiding behind the fake profiles they dare to question you. I think that is the worst. That’s kind of extreme for me when I see all this. Its very sad to see there’s so much hate or insecurity resides in people’s mind!! Luckily I’m aware that this is just a medium and it doesn’t define me or reduce anything in me in anyway so I’m OK.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Lastly, fitness goals you aim to achieve in 2019?
Ms. Shama Sikander:
I want to be able to dance better and stronger this time, I want to be leaner and stronger, much stronger physically and mentally. And I’m already on it.
Follow Shama’s journey on:
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness Org