Shakeela’s journey began in the mid-90s, but she truly captured the public's imagination with the 2000 film . This movie became a monumental success, grossing over ₹4 crore against a modest budget of ₹12 lakhs. Her popularity was so immense that it sparked the "Shakeela tharangam" (Shakeela wave), where her low-budget softcore films often outperformed mainstream superstar releases at the box office. Understanding "Bittu Padam" in Context

In 2003, she made a conscious decision to move away from adult films, successfully transitioning into comedy and character roles in mainstream movies.

Today, Shakeela is also active in politics, having joined the Indian National Congress in 2021, and continues to be a vocal figure regarding social issues and women's rights in the industry.