She was brought up in a Muslim family, along with 5 siblings, of whom she is the youngest. Shefali is of Bangladeshi origin; her parents had migrated to England from Sylhet, Bangladesh, in the 1980s, when many Bangladeshis migrated to the UK.

She also appeared in unaccredited role in a Tamil film Kannathil Muthamittal.

She plays Harry Potter's Yule Ball date in Goblet of Fire. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter in the film, spoke at the launch of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in London, told This Is London: "I had a dance scene with Shefali. She was completely gorgeous.”

Shefali landed the coveted role of Parvati Patil whilst she was still a student in her final year at Waverley School in Birmingham. She is currently completing her A Levels, in English Language and Literature, Sociology and Religious Studies at The Sixth Form College, Solihull. Her studies coincide with shooting of the next installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, where she will reprise her role as Parvati Patil.