Sheela Celine (born 24 March 1945), known mononymously as Sheela, is an Indian actress and film director who has worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. One of the leading heroines of Malayalam films from the 1960s and 1970s, she is best known for her on-screen pairing with actor Prem Nazir, with whom she shares a Guinness World Record for the largest number of films acted together as heroine and hero.
| Full name | Sheela Celine |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 March 1945 |
| Other name | Sheela |
| Occupation | Actress, director |
| Primary industry | Malayalam cinema |
| Frequent co-star | Prem Nazir |
| Notable record | Guinness World Record (with Prem Nazir) for most films as lead pair, around 105 |
| Major awards | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (2005); Kerala State Film Award (four times); J. C. Daniel Award (2019) |
Sheela emerged as one of the most prominent leading ladies of Malayalam cinema during its black-and-white era, going on to feature in colour productions of the 1970s. Her partnership with Prem Nazir defined a generation of Malayalam romantic films; the duo acted together in approximately 105 films as the lead pair, a record recognised by Guinness World Records. Beyond this, she appeared in around 20 additional films alongside Nazir in other capacities, including one in which she portrayed his mother.
She was reportedly among the highest paid actresses of her era, with her remuneration said to have exceeded that of her male co-stars at the time.
After a long break from acting spanning 22 years, Sheela returned to the screen in 2003 with the film Manassinakkare. In 2005, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Malayalam film Akale.
Sheela's body of work is considered an integral part of the classical period of Malayalam cinema. The Sheela–Prem Nazir pairing remains one of the most enduring partnerships in Indian film history, and her later supporting roles, beginning with Manassinakkare and Akale, established her as a respected character actress in contemporary Malayalam cinema. The conferment of the J. C. Daniel Award in 2019 formally recognised her lifetime contribution to the industry.