[1][2][3] After graduating from Bethune College, she joined Gananatya Sangstha and acted in the lead female role of Nabanna.

Since then she has acted in many productions of the group, chief among them are: Barricade, Tiner Taloyar and Titumir.

On 10 April 2010, Sen received the Mother Teresa International Award.

In 1960, she married actor and theatre personality Utpal Dutt, who was six years younger than her.

Shobha and Utpal Dutt have one daughter, Dr. Bishnupriya Dutt, who is a professor of theatre history in the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.