Mamata Shankar hails from one of the most illustrious families of West Bengal, India. She is the daughter of Uday and Amala Shankar, sister of Ananda Shankar and niece of the famous sitar-player and classical Indian music scholar Ravi Shankar. She is an accomplished singer, dancer, choreographer, and actress. She made her acting debut in leftist filmmaker Mrinal Sen's "Mrigayaa" (The Royal Hunt) in 1977.