Pooja Shah's life story began on August 8, 1979, in North London, where she was born into a Kenyan-Asian family with a rich cultural heritage. Her grandparents, who hailed from Gujarat in Western India, had migrated to Kenya, establishing a strong ancestral connection to the region.
Pooja's educational journey commenced at a local nursery, infants, and junior school, where she laid the foundation for her future academic pursuits. She then proceeded to a girls' grammar school, where she completed her GCSEs. Before resuming her studies, Pooja took a year-long hiatus to work part-time at the Finchley Youth Theatre, an institution she had been a part of since the age of 12.
After her year-long hiatus, Pooja enrolled in a North London college to pursue A levels in Performing Arts and Film Studies. Her academic achievements earned her a spot at The University of Brighton, where she spent three years studying Theatre with Visual Practice. Pooja graduated in 2001 with a BA Honors Degree, marking a significant milestone in her educational journey.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Pooja has been an Indian Classical Dancer since a young age, continuing her training until she began her university studies. During her second year at secondary school, Pooja and her friends decided to learn Chekhov's play, The Proposal, for fun. The experience of performing the play at the University of London's Arts Festival had a profound impact on Pooja, and she realized that this was what she wanted to do for a living.
