Shamim Sarif

Shamim Sarif Biography

Shamim Sarif is a British novelist and filmmaker of Indian origin. She made two lesbian themed films, I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen starring Sheetal Sheth opposite Lisa Ray, and both the films opened to critical acclaim. The films also won numerous awards in different categories, and achieved cult status too. Sheetal won three Best Actress awards for her performance in The World Unseen. Most of her works focus on various aspects of identity including gender, race, and sexuality, and her films on Lesbian theme were well received. She is married to Hanan Kattan, a woman producer and has two kids.

Shamim Sarif was born to Indian parents, who were earlier settled in South Africa and later moved to London in the 1960s. Sarif was born on 24 September 1969 in London. She studied English literature at the University of London, and also completed her Master’s. Sarif co-founded a multi-media entertainment company based in London in 2001 along with her spouse, Hanan Kattan and the couple later made many films on Lesbian theme.

Sarif published her first novel, The World Unseen in 2001 which was later adapted for a film with the same name. Similarly her movie, I Can't Think Straight was also based on a book written by her. Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray played the lead roles for both these films based on Lesbian theme. She directed a documentary film The House of Tomorrow in 2011. Despite The Falling Snow and The Dreaming Spires are her films later. Her debut novel won Pendleton May First Novel Award and a Betty Trask Award, and its screen adaption also received numerous awards and nominations.

Published: May 03, 2019

Updated: May 03, 2019