Farooq Sheikh was an Indian actor, philanthropist and a popular television presenter. He was best known for his work in Hindi films from 1977 to 1989 and for his work in television between 1988 and 2002. He returned to acting in films in 2008 and continued to do so until his death on 27 December 2013. His major contribution was in Parallel Cinema or the New Indian Cinema. He worked with directors ...Farooq Sheikh was an Indian actor, philanthropist and a popular television presenter. He was best known for his work in Hindi films from 1977 to 1989 and for his work in television between 1988 and 2002. He returned to acting in films in 2008 and continued to do so until his death on 27 December 2013. His major contribution was in Parallel Cinema or the New Indian Cinema. He worked with directors like Satyajit Ray, Muzaffar Ali, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Ketan Mehta.
He acted in serials and shows on television and performed on stage in famous productions such as Tumhari Amrita (1992), alongside Shabana Azmi, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, and presented the TV show, Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (Season 1). He won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lahore.
Shaikh was born in Amroli, Surat District, Gujarat in 1948 to Muslim father Mustafa Shaikh and Parsi Mother Farida. His father Mustafa Shaikh was a lawyer from Mumbai; whilst his original ancestral heritage was Hansot village (Bharuch district, Gujarat). His family were Zamindars, and he grew up in luxurious surroundings. He was the eldest of five children.
He went to St. Mary's School, Mumbai, and then to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He studied law at Siddharth College of Law, Mumbai. His father had a successful law practice, which prompted Shaikh to take up law initially. Shaikh came to acting after failing to relate to his profession in law. He met Roopa during his college days when they were active in theatre and later the couple got married. He was contemprory of Sunil Gavaskar during his college days at St. Xaviers. Shaikh's wife Roopa was his junior at St Xavier's College in Mumbai, and actor Shabana Azmi her classmate. He has two daughters, Sanaa and Shaaista. His younger daughter Sanaa worked with the NGO Aseema in Bandra and now works with the NGO United Way Mumbai.
