ABOUT SHEETAL

Sheetal is an award winning actress, author, producer, and cancer veteran who burst onto the scene with raves in the groundbreaking film, ‘ABCD’, playing the gutsy lead, a risky and memorable role as a young Indian American girl struggling with the ties of family and tradition.

Sheetal broke out and won hearts in ‘Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World’ opposite Albert Brooks, as the female lead, Maya, winning the role after an extensive international casting search. She discovered her passion for acting in high school and subsequently attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. After supplementing her education with a summer in Amsterdam as part of the intensive, International Theatre Workshop studying under renowned acting teachers like Kristin Linklater, she graduated with honors.

Sheetal has starred in over 20 feature films and has earned a loyal, international following. She has become a favorite on the festival circuit for her provocative performances, having won five Best Actress awards. She won 3 Best Actress nods for ‘The World Unseen’ and 1 for her role in ‘Wings of Hope’, with the former premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and then going on to win 11 SAFTA’s (South African equiv to Oscars). In 2012, fans voted her ‘Favorite Movie Actress’ in AfterEllen’s Visibility Awards. Her short film ‘Grin,’ which she also produced, picked up several awards on the festival circuit including Best Actress and Best Film. Sheetal has also appeared on many popular TV shows and lent her voice to iconic shows like The Family Guy. Her voice-over talents extend to films such as Ang Lee’s Life of Pi and to video games like Far Cry.

Her first children’s book Always Anjali was published in May, 2018 to wide acclaim and popularity. The follow up, Bravo Anjali! was published in September, 2021. It was the #1 release on Amazon in two categories. Both books made the USA Today’s best sellers list. This series was the first picture book series that centered a South Asian hero.  Penguin Random House has since acquired the Anjali series and is publishing all subsequent books. Her book, Making Happy, was published in Fall, 2022 and is her most personal book to date. It is an ode to self care and mental health. The book was named one of the best books of 2022 and won an IPPY Award.

Sheetal began her career at a time when few South Asians were making their living as actors. Despite being told she’d have to change her name to work, she went on to forge a successful career that has trail-blazed paths for women of color across media. Sheetal has drawn the attention of companies worldwide and has represented brands such as Reebok, CHI haircare, and Dennis Gross Skincare. She was also the first Indian American to appear in Maxim.

Sheetal is known as much as an actress as she is someone who’s outspoken and heavily involved in community outreach. She is a sought-after speaker, delivering talks and keynotes at festivals, charity galas, and conferences, with published op-eds in outlets including CNN, The Daily Beast, Parents.com, and Thrive Global. Recently, she keynoted the NY State AAPI Summit in Albany and spoke at the Congressional Families reception in DC with the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Whether speaking at her high school graduation, appearing on a talk-show, or addressing thousands of students across more than 100 schools, Sheetal is celebrated as an outspoken advocate and storyteller. A former AmeriCorps member, she serves on the board of SAYA and the advisory board of Equality Now. She is also an ambassador for the global literacy nonprofit Room to Read.

Sheetal’s voice and vision have landed her on the covers of Anokhi, Audrey, Woman International, and Seema, as well as in numerous other publications ranging from Best Life to Venice. In 2024, she was honored with the ‘Power of Voice’ Award from The Girls Leadership Organization.

Sheetal continues to tackle a wide range of roles and has developed an impressive body of books and work with an array of challenging and memorable characters in film, television, theater, and children’s literature.