Sheetal Sheth is an accomplished American actress, author, producer, and activist of Indian descent, known for her groundbreaking roles in both film and advocacy. She gained recognition for her role opposite Albert Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, and her filmography includes notable works such as ABCD, American Chai, I Can’t Think Straight, and The World Unseen. Sheth made history as the first Indian American to appear in Maxim magazine, breaking boundaries in both entertainment and representation.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Sheth is a first-generation Gujarati Indian American. Her parents emigrated from Gujarat, India in 1972, and Sheth grew up in a family with strong Jain values. While academics were important to her, Sheth’s passion for multicultural dance and sports, including basketball, also shaped her childhood. Despite her family’s devout Jain background, Sheth attended Catholic school until the age of 12, when her family moved to Trenton, where she later attended Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. There, she was actively involved in student government and received accolades for her contributions, eventually discovering her passion for acting.
Sheth’s educational journey led her to the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she honed her acting skills. Alongside her acting career, Sheth has contributed to a variety of media, publishing op-eds in CNN, The Daily Beast, and Thrive Global. She is also the author of a series of picture books, starting with Always Anjali, reflecting her dedication to storytelling and promoting diversity. Through both her professional and personal endeavors, Sheth continues to be a trailblazer for South Asian representation in the entertainment industry.
