Her true breakthrough arrived in 2000 with the Malayalam film . The movie was a massive commercial success, grossing approximately ₹4 crore against a modest budget of ₹12 lakhs. This success sparked the "Shakeela tharangam" (Shakeela wave), a period where low-budget softcore films became a dominant trend in Kerala's film industry. Transition to Mainstream Cinema
: Appeared as a contestant in the first season.
Shakeela's life story was brought to the big screen in the 2020 biopic titled , starring Richa Chadha in the lead role alongside Pankaj Tripathi . The film explores her meteoric rise, the controversies she faced, and her eventual shift away from the genre that made her famous.
Beyond her filmography, Shakeela's popularity extended into television and digital media. She has remained a household name through reality shows and candid interviews that often go viral for her honest storytelling about her life and struggles. Notable Television Appearances
In 2013, she published her autobiography, Shakeela: Aatmakatha , in Malayalam, providing an intimate look at her journey through the Indian film industry. More recently, she entered the political arena by joining the in 2021.
Shakeela made her debut in 1989 with a role in Aakhri Ghulam , followed by several supporting parts in B-grade films. However, her career trajectory changed dramatically with the 1995 Tamil film Playgirls , where she starred alongside the legendary Silk Smitha .