Hima Shankar (also known as Hima Shankar Sheematty) is an Indian actress and theatre artist born on 2 June 1987 in Kodakara, Thrissur, Kerala, to N.K. Shankaran Kutty and E.V. Kumari. She completed her schooling at St. Don Bosco Girls High School, Kodakara, and Rajarshi Memorial Higher Secondary School, Aloor, then earned a BA in Sanskrit Vedanta from Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, having also studied Drama and Fine Arts at the University of Calicut. She began her career as a theatre artist in 2006, becoming associated with several of Kerala's most respected theatre troupes - Abhinaya, Theatre of Good Hope, Niriksha, and Janabher - performing in acclaimed productions including Sakharam Binder, Women Without Men, The Valley Song, The Lesson, and Oru Kathaanaadakam. She transitioned to film in 2010 with Sufi Parinja Katha and gained wider recognition through roles in Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery), Ottakolam (2016), Aaradi, Himalayathile Kashmalan, Six Feet (2017), and Bhayam (2019). She is an outspoken commentator on current social issues and a regular panellist in television news discussions. She won the NP Abu Memorial Award in 2016 and the Jaihind TV Best Actress Award for her stage work in Kalpanthakalam (2016). In June 2018, she entered Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1 as one of the original contestants but was evicted on Day 21. She re-entered the house on Day 49 as a wildcard returnee, competing until Week 11 (Day 75 total) before being eliminated a second time, finishing ninth overall.
Her committed work with leading Kerala theatre troupes including Abhinaya, Theatre of Good Hope, Niriksha, and Janabher; her film roles in Sufi Parinja Katha (2010), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014) directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Ottakolam (2016), and Bhayam (2019); winning the NP Abu Memorial Award (2016) and the Jaihind TV Best Actress Award for Kalpanthakalam (2016); re-entering Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1 as a wildcard contestant on Day 49.
