 Shukla began serious theatre in 1986 with roles in plays like "A View From The Bridge" (Arthur Miller), "Look Back in Anger" (John Osborne), "Ghashiram Kotwal" (Vijay Tendulkar) and "Hayvadan".In 1991, he joined the NSD Repertoire Company – the professional wing of the National School of Drama – as actor.The next year he got his first break when Shekhar Kapur, impressed with his work, created a role for him in "Bandit Queen".