Shukla's family embarked on a journey from Gorakhpur to Delhi when he was merely two years old. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one that would shape his future in numerous ways. As he grew up, Shukla completed his schooling and went on to graduate from Khalsa College, Delhi.
After completing his formal education, Shukla began his professional career in 1984 with his entry into the world of theater. His passion for acting led him to take up serious theater in 1986, where he played roles in various plays such as A View From The Bridge, Look Back In Anger, Ghashiram Kotwal, and Hayvadan.
In 1991, Shukla joined the NSD Repertoire Company, the professional wing of the National School of Drama, as an actor. The next year, he received his first major break when Shekhar Kapur, impressed with his work, created a role for him in the film Bandit Queen. Shukla also took up the role of Vijay Anand's sidekick Gopi in the 1994 Doordarshan crime drama Tehkikat, which was directed by Karan Razdan, with Shekhar Kapur directing the first episode.
Shukla's biggest break came when he co-wrote the script for Ram Gopal Varma's 1998 cult classic Satya and essayed the role of gangster Kallu Mama in the film. He won the Star Screen Award for Best Screenplay alongside Anurag Kashyap.
In 2003, Shukla wrote the screenplay for Calcutta Mail, which earned him his first award, the Zee Cine Award for Best Screenplay. In 2008, he acted in his first international film, the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire, playing the character of Constable Srinivas.
