In his early days, he was active in theatre, doing plays with IPTA and with well-known directors like Sagar Sarhadi.
In 1973, while Shaikh was in his final year of law school, MS Sathyu approached him for his directorial debut Garam Hawa.
His first major film role was in the 1973 film Garam Hawa, where Farooque had a supporting role and the leading man was Balraj Sahni.
The film is credited for being a pioneer of a new wave of Hindi Art cinema.
His salary for his debut film was only Rupees 750.
He first gained recognition as a quiz master on radio, but it was his participation as an anchor on Bombay Doordarshan shows such as Yuvadarshan and Young World that made him a household name.
Sheikh in Gaman (1978) acted as the migrant Bombay taxi driver from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh dreaming about returning home to meet his wife, but never saves up enough to return home.
He went on to act in several notable films such as Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi (Chess Players) (1977), Noorie (1979), Chashme Buddoor (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Bazaar (1982), Saath Saath (1982), Rang Birangi (1983), Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983), Ek Baar Chale Aao (1983), Katha (1983), Ab Ayega Mazaa (1984), Salma (1985),
Faasle (1985), Peechha Karo (1986), Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), and Maya Memsaab (1993)  .
He formed a successful pair with Deepti Naval.
He also did a slightly negative role in Katha.

He was paired opposite Shabana Azmi in Sagar Sarhadi's Lorie, Kalpana Lajmi's Ek Pal and Muzaffar Ali's Anjuman (1986) and then in the play Tumhari Amrita.
His chemistry with Deepti Naval led to them being cast opposite each other in nine films, namely Chashme Buddoor, Katha, Saath Saath, Kissi se Na Kehna, Rang Birangi, Ek Baar Chale Aao, Tell Me Oh Khuda,  Faasle and Listen... Amaya.
They also appeared as the lead pair in an episode on Hasrat Mohani in the TV serial Kahkashan 
In 2002, in an interview with the Times of India Shaikh said, "I have never been commercially viable: People recognise me, smile and wave at me — but I have never received marriage proposals written in blood.
In his heyday in 70s and 80s, when Rajesh Khanna drove down a street, the traffic stopped — I don't mind not receiving this kind of adulation.
But I do miss not having been able to command the kind of work I wanted which Khanna could always do.
I miss not being 100 per cent commercially viable like him."

In the 1990s, he acted in fewer films.
But resurfaced in notable roles in  the 2000s.
He appeared in Saas Bahu Aur Sensex (2008) and Lahore (2009), for which he won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He appeared as Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor)'s father in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013).
His last film as the leading man was Club 60 (2013) which was also his last release before  his death.
Realbollywood.com said about his performance in the film: "As a grieving father who won't allow his loss to be forgotten, he hits all the right notes treading that thin line between melancholy and maudlin with majestic grace."
He also appeared in Youngistan and Children of War, both of which released in 2014, after his demise.

In the late 90s, Farooque Shaikh appeared in several television serials.
He played the title role in an episode dedicated to the poet and freedom fighter Hasrat Mohani in the TV series Kahkashan (1988) with Deepti Naval playing his wife.
He also worked in the famous TV serial Shrikant which aired on Doordarshan from 1985 to 1986.
This show was an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel.
Aahaa on Zee, Chamatkar on Sony and Ji Mantriji (an adaptation of Yes, Minister),on Star plus were other notable successes.
 Shaikh also had a cameo in Life OK's Do Dil Ek Jaan, where he was seen as the leading lady's father in the initial episodes.

He compered the Binny Double or Quit Quiz contest, which was telecast over Vividh Bharati.
He also performed on stage in famous plays such as Tumhari Amrita, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, featuring Shabana Azmi.
A sequel to this play was staged in 2004 titled Aapki Soniya, with Farooque Shaikh and Sonali Bendre as main leads.
Tum
In his early days, he was active in theatre, doing plays with IPTA and with well-known directors like Sagar Sarhadi. In 1973, while Shaikh was in his final year of law school, MS Sathyu approached him for his directorial debut Garam Hawa. His first major film role was in the 1973 film Garam Hawa, where Farooque had a supporting role and the leading man was Balraj Sahni. The film is credited for being a pioneer of a new wave of Hindi Art cinema. His salary for his debut film was only Rupees 750. He first gained recognition as a quiz master on radio, but it was his participation as an anchor on Bombay Doordarshan shows such as Yuvadarshan and Young World that made him a household name. Sheikh in Gaman (1978) acted as the migrant Bombay taxi driver from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh dreaming about returning home to meet his wife, but never saves up enough to return home. He went on to act in several notable films such as Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi (Chess Players) (1977), Noorie (1979), Chashme Buddoor (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Bazaar (1982), Saath Saath (1982), Rang Birangi (1983), Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983), Ek Baar Chale Aao (1983), Katha (1983), Ab Ayega Mazaa (1984), Salma (1985),
Faasle (1985), Peechha Karo (1986), Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), and Maya Memsaab (1993)  . He formed a successful pair with Deepti Naval. He also did a slightly negative role in Katha.
He was paired opposite Shabana Azmi in Sagar Sarhadi's Lorie, Kalpana Lajmi's Ek Pal and Muzaffar Ali's Anjuman (1986) and then in the play Tumhari Amrita. His chemistry with Deepti Naval led to them being cast opposite each other in nine films, namely Chashme Buddoor, Katha, Saath Saath, Kissi se Na Kehna, Rang Birangi, Ek Baar Chale Aao, Tell Me Oh Khuda,  Faasle and Listen... Amaya. They also appeared as the lead pair in an episode on Hasrat Mohani in the TV serial Kahkashan 
In 2002, in an interview with the Times of India Shaikh said, "I have never been commercially viable: People recognise me, smile and wave at me — but I have never received marriage proposals written in blood. In his heyday in 70s and 80s, when Rajesh Khanna drove down a street, the traffic stopped — I don't mind not receiving this kind of adulation. But I do miss not having been able to command the kind of work I wanted which Khanna could always do. I miss not being 100 per cent commercially viable like him."
In the 1990s, he acted in fewer films. But resurfaced in notable roles in  the 2000s. He appeared in Saas Bahu Aur Sensex (2008) and Lahore (2009), for which he won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.He appeared as Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor)'s father in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013). His last film as the leading man was Club 60 (2013) which was also his last release before  his death. Realbollywood.com said about his performance in the film: "As a grieving father who won't allow his loss to be forgotten, he hits all the right notes treading that thin line between melancholy and maudlin with majestic grace." He also appeared in Youngistan and Children of War, both of which released in 2014, after his demise.
In the late 90s, Farooque Shaikh appeared in several television serials. He played the title role in an episode dedicated to the poet and freedom fighter Hasrat Mohani in the TV series Kahkashan (1988) with Deepti Naval playing his wife. He also worked in the famous TV serial Shrikant which aired on Doordarshan from 1985 to 1986. This show was an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel. Aahaa on Zee, Chamatkar on Sony and Ji Mantriji (an adaptation of Yes, Minister),on Star plus were other notable successes.  Shaikh also had a cameo in Life OK's Do Dil Ek Jaan, where he was seen as the leading lady's father in the initial episodes.
He compered the Binny Double or Quit Quiz contest, which was telecast over Vividh Bharati. He also performed on stage in famous plays such as Tumhari Amrita, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, featuring Shabana Azmi. A sequel to this play was staged in 2004 titled Aapki Soniya, with Farooque Shaikh and Sonali Bendre as main leads. Tum
Farooq Sheikh