 As a young girl, she acted in a few films such as Noor Jehan's husband Shauqat Rizvi's "Zeenat" (1945) and "Meerabai" (1947).She worked with Shammi kapoor in romantic classic Mirza Sahiban (1957).Director Vijay Bhatt gave her the stage name Shyama, by which she is credited in her movies.She had starring roles in Guru Dutt's classic "Aar Paar", and later in "Barsaat Ki Raat", which was perhaps her best performance.