Shafi Inamdar started his career as an actor and director under the guidance of Gujarati Theater personality Praveen Joshi. He directed and acted in about 30 act plays in Hindi, Gujarat, Marathi and English from 1973 to 1978. Then he joined the Indian National Theate and Indian People’s Association where he met Balraj Sahani and other members of Indian Theater. He learned finer aspects of acting.

Ismat Chugtai’s play Nile Kamra which he staged as his first commercial production in Hindi. Inamdar got an opportunity to produce several Hindi plays for Prithvi Theater. He founded his own Theater group Hum Production in 1982 and directed, produced, acted in various plays. 1984 Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi comedy serial telecast on Doordarshan which made him a household name. Later he acted in many other TV serials. In 1983 he started his film career with the Film Vijeta. Then he followed by the hard hitting but popular Ardh Satya. The Film Aj ki Awaaz he also won a nomination of Filmfare Award for best supporting Actor. Inamdar directed film Hum Dono which was hit. He was considered a good Direction.