Seema Biswas was born in Nalbari, Assam, to Jagdish and Meera Biswas. Her mother, an early influence, was a history teacher and a pioneering figure for female theatre artistes in Assam; and she came into contact with artists like Bhupen Hazarika, Phani Sarma and Bishnuprasad Rabha early in life.
She studied Political Science at Nalbari College, and later joined the National School of Drama, New Delhi. After graduating from NSD in 1984, she joined the NSD Repertory Company.
She debuted after Shekhar Kapur watched her perform in Khubsurat Bahu, a play produced by NSD Repertory Company, and offered her a role in Bandit Queen. Although she had earlier acted in Assamese cinema this was her first big break into Hindi cinema, and she arrived with a bang.
Rooted firmly in theatre, she refuses to be typecast, and has worked in a variety of films and character roles. She has also worked in a number of Marathi, Malayalam, and Tamil films. Some of her Marathi films are Bindhast, Dhyaas Parwa, Lalbaug-Parel.
She has been honoured with the Life Membership of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy Of Film & Television by the Director Sandeep Marwah.
She won the 1996 National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film. She won the 2000 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the 2006 Best Actress Genie Award for her role as Shakuntala in Deepa Mehta’s Water (2005).
Movies Done By Seema Biswas
- 1988 Amshini Sarada Hindi
- 1994 Bandit Queen Phoolan Devi Hindi
- 1996 Khamoshi: The Musical Flavy J. Braganza Hindi
- 1997 Ladies Only Hindi
- 1998 Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa Somu’s mother Hindi
- 1999 Bindhaast CBI officer Marathi
- 1999 Samar Dulari Hindi
- 2001 Dhyasparva Malati Karve Marathi
- 2001 Shantham Malayalam
- 2002 Deewangee Psychiatrist Hindi
- 2002 Company Ranibai Hindi
- 2003 Boom Bharti Hindi, English
- 2003 Bhoot Bai Hindi
- 2003 Iyarkai Mercy Tamil
- 2003 Pinjar Pagli- Mad woman Hindustani, Punjabi
- 2004 Kaya Taran Sister Agatha Hindi
- 2004 Dobara Hindi
- 2005 Water Shakuntala English, Hindi
- 2005 Mumbai Godfather Hindi
- 2005 The White Land Sudha’s mother Hindi
- 2006 Vivah Rama Hindi
- 2006 Shoonya Pradhan Hindi
- 2007 Sofia The Madam
- 2008 Striker Siddharth’s mother Hindi
- 2008 Shaurya Captain Javed Khan’s mother Hindi
- 2008 Heaven on Earth English, Punjabi
- 2009 Cooking with Stella Stella English, Hindi
- 2010 Lalbaug Parel Mother Marathi
- 2011 Queens! Destiny Of Dance Guru Amma Hindi
- 2011 Patang Sudha Hindi, Gujarati, English
- 2011 With Love, Delhi! Mother English
- 2012 Midnight’s Children Mary English
- 2014 Chaarfutiya Chhokare Janki Hindi
- 2014 Manjunath Manjunath’s Mother Hindi
- 2014 Sold Amma English
- 2014 Balyakalasakhi Selvi Malayalam
- 2014 Endless Summer Malayalam
- 2014 Exclusion Hindi
- 2015 Jai Ho Democracy Mohini Devi Hindi
- 2016 Kothanodi Dhoneshwari Assamese
- 2016 A Yellow Bird Siva’s mother Tamil, Mandarin, English
- 2016 Freaky Ali Ali’s Mother Hindi
- 2016 Anatomy of Violence Hindi
- 2016 Holding Back Hindi
- 2017 Half Girlfriend Rani Sahiba, Madhav’s mother Hindi
- 2017 Sameer Mumtaz Khala Hindi
- 2017 Soul Curry Konkani
- 2017 Dhiya Poota Kakiya Bhojpuri
- 2018 Bhoga Khirikee Assamese
- 2019 Darkness Visible Rakhee Hindi
Television Series Done By Seema Biswas
- 2014–15 Maha Kumbh: Ek Rahasaya, Ek Kahani Mai Mui
- 2019 Leila
- 2020-present Daadi Amma Daadi Amma Maan Jao Daadi Amma
Web Series Done By Seema Biswas
- 2020 Code M
Awards Received By Seema Biswas
- 1995: National Film Awards Won: Best Actress for Bandit Queen
- 1997: Won: Best Female Debut for Bandit Queen
- 1997: Won: Best Supporting Actress for Khamoshi: The Musical
- 2003: Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Company
- 2004: Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Bhoot
- 2001 – Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- 26th Genie Awards, 2006: Won: Best Actress for Water
- Canadian Screen Awards, 2013: Won