Shernaz Patel

Shernaz Patel is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi cinema, English theatre, television, and voice acting. She is particularly recognised for her performances in Black, Guzaarish, and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within. Born in Mumbai, she grew up in a family deeply connected to theatre, with her parents, Ruby and Burjor Patel, both respected theatre artists.
Patel began her theatre career in 1984 with The Diary of Anne Frank. Her passion for stage performance later led her to co-found RAGE, a Mumbai-based theatre group, with Rahul da Cunha and Rajit Kapur in 1993. She studied at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and earned a master’s degree in acting from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Alongside theatre, Patel established herself in films with performances in Black, Little Zizou, Rockstar, Guzaarish, and Talaash. She has also contributed her voice to animated productions, including the Hindi version of The Lion King. Beyond acting, she has worked as an acting educator and theatre artistic director, helping develop performing arts in India.