Shashikala Jawalkar was one of six children born in Solapur, Maharashtra[3] to a Hindu Bhavsar Shimpi caste Marathi speaking family.
Noor Jehan's husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, was making the movie Zeenat then, and included Shashikala in a Qawwali scene.
[5] Rizvi gave her a supporting role alongside Noorjehan and Dilip Kumar in the 1947 film Jugnu.
[10] She played a negative character in Chhote Sarkar (1974)[citation needed] starring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana.
In the past years, she has performed in a few television serials, including Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai for Sony, Apnaapan for Zee TV[citation needed], Dil Deke Dekho for Sab TV [citation needed]and Son Pari[17] for Star Plus.