Aruna Shields was born in United Kingdom. She is of Anglo Indian descent (Scottish/English/Indian). She began her education at a convent school before winning an academic scholarship to attend a boarding school. She went onto gain a distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She also obtained a degree from Central St Martins, London. Her father came over to UK when there was shortage of doctors in England. Her father is from Bangalore and his mother tongue is Kannada.Her mother is also in medical profession.She has two brothers, one is an accountant and the other is an engineer.
