Shahrukh Husain

Biography: Writer, screenwriter, folklorist, psychotherapist and former British Film Censor, Shah’s adaptation of IN CUSTODY was Ismail Merchant’s directorial debut and was nominated for a BAFTA in the and Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1995. BEECHAM HOUSE, a six part series for ITV, co-devised with Gurinder Chadha and part scripted by Shah commenced production in August 2018.

Go to her website

In Post-production

2018 BEECHAM HOUSE, 6 part TV drama series. Set in India in the late 18th century. Shah is series co-devisor, historical Consultant and scriptwriter on episode 3.

In Development:

2015-18 – THE MAHABARATA, 10-part series adaptation on the Indian epic for Bend It Films, Sky TV.

Produced films and commissions:

2009 – UNDERCURRENTS, A feature film tribute to noir/China Town set in an Asian Muslim context – Fruit Salad Films.

2007 – FIRE OF LOVE, a feature film rewrite for Muzaffar Ali (a well-known Indian director) about the mystic and poet Rumi.

2004 - THE LAST MAHARAJA, a film script in development with Gurinder Chadha: British Film Council/Bendit Films.

2000 - LUCREZIA BORGIA and MATA HARI, TV mini-series in development with Phyllis Carlysle. Italian director Stephano Reali was attached to Lucrezia.

1999 - NO! Segment for SISTERS OF THE SOUTH (UNICEF Year of Woman and Child), 30-minute theatrical film script for Seagull Entertainment (Commissioned by UNICEF Films Division).

1998 - MARIANNE, MY FANTASY, feature film script for Jean-Louis Bironne Productions: based on the novel by Shizuko Natsuki: BASIC INSTINCT meets REMAINS OF THE DAY.

1995 - LILAH

A romantic fantasy for Buena Vista Films: Disney: Executive Producer: Goldie Hawn: To star Anette Bening

1993 - IN CUSTODY, screenplay adaptation of Anita Desai's book for Merchant Ivory Productions: Shown at the London Film Festival: November 1993: as well as Indian, Berlin and Italian Film Festivals: Nominated for BAFTA 1994: Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar 1995.

PLAYS

2001 – A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS – the story of Schehrazade – Unicorn Theatre. Broke Christmas play record for ticket sales

1990 - A MEGAWICKED STORY, a play for children with an anti-drugs message: Performed as puppet theatre in summer 1993

BOOKS

(for adults and children translated into 17 languages including Estonian, Turkish and Korean!!)

.2015 – A RESTLESS WIND – novel – Pan Macmillan

Recently completed a novel for adults and one for children.

2011 - THE WISE FOOL – Fables from the Middle East – Barefoot Books

2007 - THE WIT AND WISDOM OF MULLA NASRUDDIN – Scholastic Books

2005 – IN SEARCH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD – Penguin Books

2001 -2002 – ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS SERIES – (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Vikings, Indian, African) - Evans

2000 - EROTIC MYTHS & LEGENDS - Virago

1999 - TALES FROM THE OPERA - Barefoot Books

1998 – TEMPTRESSES - Virago

1998 – SEXUALIA MUNDI – Duncan- vaird Publishing -various spreads for this encyclopaedia

1997 – GODDESSES - Duncan-Baird Publishing – various US university editions

1996 – THE CELTIC DAWN – Editorial planning and various contributions

1995 - WOMEN WHO WEAR THE BREECHES - Delicious and Dangerous Tales

Virago: US rights sold to Anchor Doubleday

1993 - THE VIRAGO BOOK OF WITCHES

Edited and introduced: Published October 1993: US edition Faber & Faber (HB) October 1994: Dutch and Portuguese, Norwegian and German rights sold: US (pb) October 1995,

To be reissued this year with new introduction

1993 - MECCA - Evans Brothers

1993 - THE SEXUAL IMAGINATION - Various contributions: a Feminist Companion: Jonathan Cape: Ed Harriet Gilbert

1988 - EXPLORING INDIAN FOOD - Mantra Publishing

1986 - FOCUS ON INDIA - Hamish Hamilton

1986 - DEMONS, GODS AND HOLY MEN FROM INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND

Eurobook

1985 - URDU LITERATURE

With C Shackle and D Matthews: Third World Publications

SCREENWRITING COURSES:

Lee Goldberg, William Rabkin: Successful Television Writing: Writers University (online)

Robert McKee: 3 Days on Structure: International Forum

Horror: Screenwriters Store

Linda Seger (with whom Ms Husain also worked on a screenplay): Characters, Drama, Adaptation: International Forum

Chris Soth: Mini-movie Method (Chris has worked with Ms Husain on Undercurrents. Robert McKee advised on it, too.)

Blake Sneider: Save the Cat

John Truby: 22 Steps: Raindance

Jurgen Wolff: Plots: International Forum

Simon Brett: Sitcoms: London Media Workshops

MEMBERSHIPS:

Society of Authors (UK)

Producer-Writers Guild of North America, Hollywood Branch.

OTHER WORK:

Senior Examiner: British Board of Film Classification 1985-1993

Psychotherapist 1992 -

Storyteller 1985 -

Various lectures and papers in Film, Women's Studies and Folklore including Goddess and Wiccan workshops.