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Shama  Sikander is one gutsy actor who has not been given her due credit till date in Bollywood, though she has been working for the last two decades.Shama has proved herself not only in films but also in TV and plays and after waiting for a long time, she has now acted in web series like Sexaholic and Maaya

 

Shailendra Singh who has always been at the forefront of entertainment trends, is targeting India’s 600 million under the age of 25, by writing, producing and directing short format cinema for digital and mobile. With over one billion mobile phone subscribers in India, Shailendra says that he is banking on the future of digital content. Culture Machine, a digital entertainment company will be distributing Shailendra’s Shailendra Singh channel on Youtube. Shama Sikander has acted in the first series called Sexoholic.

Says Shailendra, “Bollywood is currently completely star-driven but there are millions out there who have a concept, skill, a vision and most of all, the hunger to make it in this business by fair means, and not just by hook or crook using any short cut. They need a chance and a mentor and the right platforms. Bollywood Next is waiting out there for their chance and I am going to give them on a platter”.

Shama Sikander, who was engaged to her long time boy friend James Milliron in January last year, is agog with excitement that her gamble has paid off and she has been accepted in the film Sexaholic. When asked what made her agree to play the role of a sex starved housewife in Sexaholic, a role of a married woman who is a nymphomaniac who has multiple intimate relationships because of her addiction to sex that will certainly shock the conservative amongst us, Shama replied as a matter of fact. “I have always played docile roles, which bored me after a certain amount of time and I wanted to come out of my comfort zone, especially since I feel that I have several layers and shades to me which have not yet been tapped”.

Shama however is quick enough to add that she did not accept the role immediately when Shailendra approached her with the offer. “When first Shailendra asked me to do the role, I was very angry with him that he thought of offering this kind of a role to me when he knew me well over the last several years but he pacified me by telling me that he just couldn’t think of any other actress for the role he had conceived because he knew my talent too well and was confident that I will be able to do justice to it.”

“I am glad that I said yes to the role when Shailendra and Vikram approached me as I am sure if I had said no, any other actress would have stepped in and my loss would have ended up as her gain.”

Shama Sikander who shot to fame instantly with the popular TV show Yeh Meri Life Hai way back in 2003, though she did not click when she made her debut with Prem Aggan opposite Fardeen Khan in 1998, also frankly confesses that she was game to try her hand at the complex role because she knew that Shailendra was a family man and will not cross the line. Also, she was happy that the film had a message that touched her heart literally. Today, times are changing and whether one is right or wrong, everyone is a human being and is created by God and hence one should not blame a person if he or she does not fit into a typical frame.”

Shama adds that yet another reason she agreed to be part of the marketing genius Shailendra’s project Sexaholic is that she knew how emotional a person he is. “Once when I was looking out for a show stopper for my show at Lakme and did not get the right one and was desperate, Shailendra boosted my sagging morale by telling me on my face that I was a fool to search for a star when I was the star as I was creating the brand in the first place and instilled in me ample courage to bring out the best in me at the show as the show stopper.”

Shama is amazed at the speed with which Shailendra did his work on the sets of the film. “Imagine in just three days we completed the shoot. Every day we worked for a maximum of only five hours. You can just imagine what kind of an actress I am when each and every scene that Shailendra shot was different but he made sure that he would make me laugh. I am glad that I said yes to the role when Shailendra and Vikram Bhatt approached me because if I had said no, any other gutsy actress would have stepped in and my loss would have ended up as her gain.”

Shama continues. “You should always remember one thing. And that is that you have only one life to lead. When I was suffering from a huge bout of depression, no one on earth came forward to help me and I even went into some sort of hibernation for some time. I would not really want to call this as my second innings though in general, people tend to tag an actress as a TV actress, a film actress or an anchor as such. I am very proud of whatever I am today, whether I have been able to achieve even half of my potential or not because I have never been so happy in life.”

Shama signs off. “Look here. I am much more than just an actor, a commodity or a product that people can easily stamp me every Monday in a TV show or every Friday in a film. You are taught to manipulate and tell lies in this line so much so that you even end up manipulating even yourself by deluding yourself ultimately. I am also glad that I was appreciated for my role in Vikrtam Bhatt’s web series Maaya.Films are not for me the be all and end all of my life. I have many more miles to tread.I want to travel all over the world. I have this urge to go out and find myself and come back with my head held high.” n