{{short description|Indian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Sheela Rajkumar | image = | caption = Sheela in 2023 | image_size = | native_name = | other_names = Sheela | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Jayankondam, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, India | death_date = | death_place = | education = MA Bharatanatyam | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|choreographer}} | years_active = 2016–present | relatives = }}
'''Sheela Rajkumar''' is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer who has worked predominantly in Tamil films.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vikatan.com/avalvikatan/2016-apr-05/entertainment/117267-artist-sheela-rajkumar.html|title=கலையும் காதலும் ஜெயிக்கும்!|publisher=www.vikatan.com|language=ta|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927155156/http://www.vikatan.com/avalvikatan/2016-apr-05/entertainment/117267-artist-sheela-rajkumar.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Career== Sheela is a Bharatanatyam dancer and a trainer. She joined the Chennai-based theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai where she was performing theatrical arts. Sheela also worked in short films for Kalaignar TV's reality show ''Naalaya Iyakunar''.<ref name="filmcompanion">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/sheela-rajkumar-kumbalangi-nights-to-let-acting-chezhian-heroine/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329202027/https://www.filmcompanion.in/sheela-rajkumar-kumbalangi-nights-to-let-acting-chezhian-heroine/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2019|title=Seeing Me, If Someone Is Encouraged To Enter Cinema After Marriage, I'll Be Happy: Sheela Rajkumar|last=Rao|first=Subha|date=2019-02-26|website=Film Companion|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref>
In 2016, she played a small role in Arivazhagan's ''Aarathu Sinam''. Her next film ''To Let'' was screened at numerous film festivals in 2017 and 2018, and was theatrically released on 21 February 2019. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/to-let-film-review-a-beautiful-portrait-of-memories/article26328682.ece|title='To Let' film review: A beautiful portrait of memories|author=Srivatsan S|date=21 February 2019|access-date=12 April 2020|work=The Hindu|archive-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412173504/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/to-let-film-review-a-beautiful-portrait-of-memories/article26328682.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/film-that-portrays-the-ordeal-of-house-hunting-bags-award/article20557321.ece|title=Film that portrays the ordeal of house-hunting bags award|author=B. Kolappan|date=20 November 2017|access-date=12 April 2020|work=The Hindu|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221161933/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/film-that-portrays-the-ordeal-of-house-hunting-bags-award/article20557321.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> She was then roped in her first Tamil serial as a leading role in ''Azhagiya Tamil Magal'' telecasted in Zee Tamil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-tv-serials/62204/Chinna-thirai-Television-News/Azhagiya-tamil-magal-new-serial-in-Zee-Tamil.htm|title=Azhagiya Tamil Magal new serial on Zee Tamil|date=24 August 2017|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010102431/http://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-tv-serials/62204/Chinna-thirai-Television-News/Azhagiya-tamil-magal-new-serial-in-Zee-Tamil.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, she appeared in the thriller film ''Asuravadham''. The following year, she acted in ''Namma Veettu Pillai'' and in the Malayalam-language film ''Kumbalangi Nights''.<ref name="filmcompanion"/> In 2020, she played the title role in ''Draupathi which'' was censured for its regressive take on caste politics. A year later, she was featured in the progressive political satire, ''Mandela'', which mocks casteism. Later she said she was not aware of ''Draupathi''<nowiki/>'s politics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I was not aware of Draupathi's politics: Sheela Rajkumar - The New Indian Express|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2021/Apr/14/i-was-not-aware-ofdraupathis-politicssheela-rajkumar-2289704.html|access-date=2021-09-30|website=www.newindianexpress.com|date=April 2021 |archive-date=21 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621051252/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2021/apr/14/i-was-not-aware-ofdraupathis-politicssheela-rajkumar-2289704.amp|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Filmography== * {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! class="unsortable" |Notes |- | 2016 || ''Aarathu Sinam'' || Malar || |- |rowspan=2 | 2017 || ''To Let'' || Amudha || Lead debut |- | ''Manusangada'' || Revathy|| |- | 2018 || ''Asuravadham'' || Kasthuri || |- |rowspan=2 |2019 || ''Kumbalangi Nights'' || Sathi ||Malayalam film |- | ''Namma Veettu Pillai'' || Thulasi's mother || |- | 2020 || ''Draupathi'' || Draupathi || |- | 2021 ||''Mandela'' || Thenmozhi || |- |rowspan="2"| 2022 ||''Jothi'' || Aruljothi || |- | ''Mayathirai'' || Ghost ||<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mayathirai/movieshow/93277052.cms | title=Mayathirai Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes | website=The Times of India | access-date=5 August 2022 | archive-date=5 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805011108/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/mayathirai/movieshow/93277052.cms | url-status=live }}</ref> |- |rowspan=3|2023 || ''Pichaikkaran 2'' || Raani || |- | ''Noodles'' || Sakthi || |- |''Jigarthanda DoubleX''|| Lourde || Cameo appearance |- | rowspan="3" |2025 || ''Vembu'' || Vembu || |- |''Gevi''|| Mandharai || |- |''Aan Paavam Pollathathu''|| Lakshmi || |- |}
== Television == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !Network!! class="unsortable" |Notes |- | 2017–2018|| ''Azhagiya Tamil Magal'' || Poong Kodi |Zee Tamil|| |- | 2017 || ''Livin'''|| Thaen |Put Chutney|| YouTube Web Series |- | rowspan="2" |2020 |''Shakshi'' |Shakshi |JFW- Just For Women | rowspan="3" |YouTube Short Films |- |''Edhu Thevaiyo Adhuve Dharmam'' |Viji |Movie Buff Tamil |- |2022 |''Seethai'' |Seethai |Jolly Wood |- |2022 |''Vanakam Tamizha'' |Herself |Sun TV |Guest |- |2022 |''Something Something'' |Herself |Adithya TV |Guest |- | 2022 || |''Pettaikaali'' || Thenmozhi |Aha Tamil|| |- |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !Artist/ Work!! Honouring Body !! Category !Outcome |- | rowspan="2" | 2020 | rowspan="2" |To Let|| Vikatan Awards || rowspan="2" | Best Debut Female |{{Nom}} |- | Zee Cine Awards |{{Nom}} |- | 2022 | rowspan = “3” | ''Mandela'' || 67th Filmfare Awards South || rowspan=“3” | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil | {{Nom}} |}
== Personal life == {{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2023}} Sheela married to Thambi chozhan. On December 2, 2023 she announced that end of her marriage life on social media.
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajkumar, Sheela}} Category:Living people Category:Tamil actresses Category:Tamil television actresses Category:Actresses in Tamil television Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Indian film actresses Category:People from Thanjavur Category:Actors from Thanjavur district Category:Bharatanatyam dancers Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Indian female classical dancers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema