He is co-founder of the Whistler Theatre Project, and also writer and director of the CBC adaptation of Othello.

[3] He appeared as Nadir Khan in Deepa Mehta's film adaptation of Midnight's Children.

He guest starred as Professor Mahmoud Bahmanyaron in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries which aired March 18, 2013.

[4] He studied theatre at the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto[5] and has a Bachelor of Arts from Sheridan College.

[9] On May 29, 2014, Shaikh was named the film commissioner and director of entertainment industries for the City of Toronto.