If MUSHTAQ SHIEKH had decided to stick with the profession his education would have served up for him, the world would have gained a chef and lost a writer. It was his stint as a cub reporter for G magazine during his teens that led to him exchange the kitchen fires for the creative cauldrons of film journalism.Years later, he retired from the print industry as the youngest editor of Star & Style though he continued to serve up haute cuisine for film buffs in his avatar as ‘Shiekhspear’.
His prolific pen soon drove him to climb over the fence and become a part of the film industry as a screenplay writer. His scripts have been televised on national and private networks with serials and telefilms such as Kahin Toh Hoga, K Street Pali Hill, Kya Haadsa Kya Haqeeqat, Kehna Hain Kuch Mujhko, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasauti Zindagi Ki recording some of the highest ratings in the country. Mushtaq Shiekh's resume includes his highly acclaimed work as a screenplay writer for Om Shanti Om and Billu Barber. Despite being hard at work on scripting for the silver screen, he has kept his interests in television alive with his creative products such as the serial Mata Ki Chowki.
The very vocal scribe in him also ensures that Mushtaq brings out chronicles of Bollywood every now and then. His avatar as an Author began with The Making of Asoka, Devdas - The Indian Hamlet, and The Making of Om Shanti Om. The man who has put in guest appearances in Shah Rukh’s films (Main Hoon Na, 2004 and Om Shanti Om, 2007), who is more family than guest in the Khan’s inner circle, also wrote the bestselling biography of close friend and muse Shah Rukh Khan, now presented in its second edition Shah Rukh Can.
The author lives in Bandra, Mumbai, India with his mom, dad, two sisters, brother-in-law and cute nephew, Zidane. His immediate family is his Life Coach, Bageera – the all black beautiful Labrador. His other close relatives are his pet goat “Blimby” (pronounced as Limmy), the shimmering gold fish “Iquara” and the parrot “Envy”. The latest addition to this circle is the turtle which refuses to move lovingly named “Inertia”. As film commentator and a recognized opinion maker for the film fraternity, Shiekhspear sips his coffee at the local Barista to enjoy Bollywood and everything it stands for. Piping Hot!!!