text: Shaam (actor)
  
  Shamshuddin Ibrahim (born 4 April 1977), known professionally as Shaam, is an Indian model and Tamil film actor who is also known for his roles in Telugu films. Starting his career as a professional model, he soon made his acting debut in the film Kushi (2000), appearing in a cameo role. He further appeared in lead roles in critically successful films such as 12B (2001), Lesa Lesa (2003), Iyarkai (2003), and Ullam Ketkumae (2005), which was also successful commercially. He garnered acclaim for his role in Kick (2009), which earned him the name Kick Shaam. Kick enabled Shaam to star in other successful films such as Race Gurram.
  
  Early life
  Shaam was born on 4 April 1977 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil-speaking family; his father hails from Madurai, while his mother is from Tiruppathur. He grew up in Bengaluru, where he pursued his studies. After completing his B Com, he did modelling through which he hoped to become an actor.
  
  Career
  
  2000-2005: Debut and success
  
  Shaam began his career as a model in Bengaluru, modelling for various ads. Keen on pursuing an acting career, he was vainly searching for acting offers for four years. He then, following the recommendation of his model coordinator Biju Jayadevan, got to meet cinematographer Jeeva, who was planning to make his directorial debut and was on the lookout for a new face for the film's lead role. Shaam was given the role for the film 12B. Shaam recollects that during his first meeting with Jeeva, he handed over his portfolio and introduced himself in English, when Jeeva heard him out, and then said, "Repeat what you just said, in Tamil" and Shaam did, and was subsequently signed on the next day after a meeting with producer Vikram Singh. The promos of the film were critically praised with Shaam signing on to appear on several projects before 12B even released. 
  
  His second feature film, however, the S J Suryah-directed Kushi, in which he appeared in a cameo role, released first, since 12B got stuck in production and released in 2001 only. The film which was a blatant rip-off of Sliding Doors, fetched rave reviews and was seen as a "dream entry" for Shaam, his performance was praised as "apt" His subsequent releases including Vasanth's Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke! (2002), Bala (2002), Anbe Anbe (2003) and Priyadarshan's Lesa Lesa (2003), garnered only average or poor box office returns. His final release of 2003 was Iyarkai by debutant S P Jananathan, which also failed at the box office due to a delayed release, but opened to high critical acclaim, even winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
  
  Following Ullam Ketkumae, directed by Jeeva, finally was a commercial success again. It is Shaam's best ever film in which he is able to bring out the sensibilities of the character.ABCD, a romance film released on August 2005.
  
  2006-2008: Downfalls
  In 2006, he acted in love story, Manathodu Mazhaikalam. The film was released to negative reviews. And a Kannada film directed by Kavitha Lankesh, with Ramya and Rakshita, Tananam Tananam, an average grosser that released to mixed reviews. It fetched his co-star, Ramya, her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She had described her role in the film as "little complex" and "challenging."
  
  In 2007, post the death of Jeeva, Shaam struggled to succeed in the Tamil film industry.
   
  In 2008, he appeared in the film, Thoondil directed by K. S. Adhiyaman. The next is Inba alongside Sneha. It's the third collaboration between Shaam and actress Sneha. These films had no impact at the box office.
  
  2009-present: Kick and beyond 
  Following several more unsuccessful films, he got a major break in the 2009 Telugu action film Kick. He reprised the role in the Tamil remake, titled Thillalangadi. Shaam tried his luck in Hindi with director Faisal Saif in the Hindi-Tamil bilingual titled Mujhe Maaf Karo. But due to ego clash between the actor and director the film has been put on hold. After the success of Kick, Shaam signed his second Telugu film, a biopic Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. However, due to the crisis in Andhra Pradesh at the time, the film failed to materialize.
  
  In late 2011, he appeared in the film 6, which released to positive reviews. For his role in the film, Shaam spent more than a dozen sleepless nights, which resulted in a big swelling below his eyes and for another look, hereduced his weight and grew his hair long and a beard.
  
  In late 2013, Shaam signed up to appear in Jananathan's political drama Purampokku and portrayed an honest police officer, in an ensemble cast featuring Arya and Vijay Sethupathi. The actor revealed that a few days into the shoot, he realised the film could "redeem his career" and did not mind the potential liabilities of appearing alongside two other popular actors. Upon release in May 2015, he won critical acclaim for his portrayal of the character. In an IBT review of the film, the reviewer stated that "Shaam as a police officer stands out among all the leading characters, with the intensity he portrays in his role". Shaam's next release was the Kannada suspense thriller Game, which was also shot in Tamil as Oru Melliya Kodu alongside Arjun and Manisha Koirala. The Kannada version released in February 2016 to positive reviews and the Tamil version released in July 2016.  In 2017, he made his debut in Malayalam with The Great Father.
  
  Personal life
  Shaam has three brothers and two sisters.
  
  He is married to a Punjabi, Kashish, who was his collegemate. They have two daughters named Samaira (born on May 2nd, 2006) and Kiara (born on April 7th, 2010).
  
  Filmography
  
  References
  
  External links
   
  
  Category:Male actors from Madurai
  Category:Indian male film actors
  Category:Indian male models
  Category:Indian Muslims
  Category:Tamil male actors
  Category:Living people
  Category:1978 births
  Category:21st-century Indian male actors
  Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema
  Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema
  Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema
  Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema