[1] Happy Salma started her career in the entertainment industry as an actress in numerous sinetron (Indonesian soap operas).

In addition, Happy Salma wrote a collaborative novel with Pidi Baiq entitled Hanya Salju dan Pisau Batu (2010).

[11] In 2009, Happy Salma played a monologue "Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk" in Amsterdam, Bern-Swiss,[12] and Taman Ismail Marzuki, whose story was adapted from the novel Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk by Ahmad Tohari and then followed by another performance, namely "Jabang Tetuko" (2011),[13] Java War "Opera Diponegoro" (2011),[14] "Monolog Inggit" (2011 - 2014), "Roro Mendut" (2012),[15] "#3Perempuanku, Bukan Bunga Bukan Lelaki" (2015),[16] several theater performances with "Indonesia Kita" [17] and again played a role as Nyai Ontosoroh in "Bunga Penutup Abad" (2016 - 2017).

According to Hollywoodreporter, "...lead actor Happy Salma offer a precisely calibrated, emotionally nuanced exploration of one woman going through a mid-life crisis in rural Indonesia during the 1960s that both looks and sounds stunning thanks to above-and-beyond craft contributions.

"[28] " Happy Salma really has the most astonishingly beautiful face, enhanced with an immense range of expressive subtlety that’s reminiscent of Juliette Binoche, and the curvaceous figure of a young Sophia Loren, or Kim Kardashian if that’s your frame of reference.

Beside acting and literature, Happy Salma also manage a jewelry business under the brand Tulola,[32] which she founded with Sri Luce Rusna and Franka Makarim.

[36] Then, Tulola launched many series of collection including "Lingkaran Semesta" (2016),[37] "Truth" (2017),[38] "Ubud" (2018),[39] "Dewi Sri" (2018),[40] "Perjalanan Kenangan" (2019),[41] "Puspita" (2019) inspired by 5 character of Yogyakarta Princess (Putri Keraton Yogyakarta),[42] "Nusantara" (2019) a collaboration with Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, Indonesian singer Andien and Eva Celia,[43] "Dengan Tanganku, Aku Merakit Mimpimu" (2019) inspired by a book entitled "Kuantar ke Gerbang" written by Ramadhan K.H.,[44] and "Jiwa Penuh Sinar" (2021).

[46] For further information about Tulola Jewelry can be found at www.shoptulola.com On 3 October 2010, Happy Salma married Tjokorda Bagus Dwi Santana Kertayasa, a man of noble descent from Ubud, Bali.