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Some people find their soulmates in a crowded bar. Others swipe right until their thumbs ache. Michael Caine? He found his by staring at a television screen in 1971 while a Maxwell House coffee commercial played.
It sounds like the plot of a creepy stalker flick, honestly. But for Sir Michael Caine and his wife, Shakira Baksh, it was the start of a marriage that has survived over 52 years. In a town like Hollywood—where "forever" usually means until the next sequel wraps—that is basically a miracle.
That Maxwell House Commercial
Caine was at home with a friend, probably nursing a drink, when the ad came on. It featured a woman dancing with a basket of coffee beans on her head. Caine didn't just think she was pretty. He became "obsessed," a word he’s used himself to describe those first eight minutes.
He was ready to hop on a plane to Brazil. He literally thought she was Brazilian because of the coffee theme.
Luckily, his friend in the advertising world had the scoop. "She’s not in Brazil," the friend told him. "She lives in Fulham Road. About a mile from here."
Imagine that. One of the most famous actors in the world is ready to trek across the Atlantic, only to find out the woman of his dreams is just down the street. He called her. Then he called her again. And again. It took eleven phone calls before Shakira finally agreed to go out with him.
Persistence is a fine line. In 1971, it was considered romantic; today, he might have been blocked. But Shakira eventually gave in, and they fell in love almost instantly.
Who is Shakira Baksh?
People often just label her as "Michael Caine’s wife," but Shakira was a star in her own right long before she met the man who would become Alfred Pennyworth. Born in Guyana to Indian Muslim parents, she worked as a secretary at the U.S. Consulate.
She wasn't looking for fame. Her colleagues actually talked her into entering the Miss Guyana pageant.
She won.
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Then she went to London for the Miss World contest in 1967 and placed third. That’s how she ended up in those commercials and even snagged a few acting roles, like in the sci-fi flick Toomorrow alongside Olivia Newton-John. She wasn't just a face in an ad; she was a woman building a career in a new country.
A Marriage of 52 Years (And Counting)
The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas on January 8, 1973. It wasn't a massive, bloated celebrity wedding. It was a civil ceremony at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel.
They have one daughter together, Natasha. Michael also has a daughter, Dominique, from his first marriage to Patricia Haines.
What’s the secret? How do you stay married for five decades in an industry that eats relationships for breakfast? Caine has been pretty blunt about it over the years. He credits Shakira with literally saving his life.
Before they met, he was drinking a bottle of vodka a day. He was smoking several packs of cigarettes. He was, by his own admission, a bit of a wreck. "Without her, I would have been dead long ago," he once told BollywoodShaadis.
The Religious Dynamic
One detail that often surprises people is their different backgrounds. Shakira is Muslim. Michael is Christian.
In a world where people fight over the smallest ideological differences, they’ve made it look easy. Caine told The Guardian back in 2009 that "no questions ever come up." She does her thing, he does his, and they coexist in a way that’s "benign and peaceful." It’s a level of maturity that seems rare these days.
Life After Retirement
As of early 2026, Sir Michael is officially enjoying the quiet life. He confirmed his retirement from acting in October 2023 after the release of The Great Escaper. He's 92 now.
He spent seven decades in front of the camera. He’s got the Oscars, the knighthood, and the $7.8 billion in box office revenue. But if you watch him in interviews today, he doesn't talk about the trophies as much as he talks about Shakira.
They are rarely seen apart. Whether it's a red carpet event or just a stroll near their home, they are usually arm-in-arm. It’s a partnership that redefined what a "power couple" looks like by actually staying together.
Why Their Story Matters
The story of Michael Caine and his wife isn't just a bit of trivia for movie buffs. It’s a case study in how to handle fame without letting it destroy your personal life.
- Transparency: They’ve always been open about the struggles, including Michael's past addictions.
- Equality: He refers to her as his "right-hand man" and his confidante.
- Balance: They kept their family life relatively private, despite his massive stardom.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. In an era of "conscious uncoupling" and messy TikTok divorces, seeing two people who genuinely like each other after half a century is pretty cool.
To apply a bit of that "Caine energy" to your own life, look for partners who challenge you to be better rather than just someone who fits a profile. And maybe, if you're lucky, you won't have to call them eleven times before they say yes.
Check the latest interviews from Sir Michael Caine's 2023 retirement tour to hear more about his thoughts on longevity and legacy. You can also explore Shakira Caine's past work as a jewelry designer to see her creative life outside of the spotlight.