Fatima Sana Shaikh first arrived at the scene as a child actor in Kamal Haasan’s iconic Chachi 420 and then went onto act in One Two Ka Four and few other films. She made her debut as a grown up star in the Aamir Khan starrer blockbuster Dangal in 2016. From there on, she has gone onto play a number of characters of various types. She looked back at her journey so far in an interview with us.

Fatima Sana Shaikh on life in Bollywood, “I believe in doing the work quietly and letting that speak for itself”

In spite of some notable work, do you feel side-lined by the industry’s kids?
Not really, I don’t feel side-lined. This industry works in many ways. Some people come with easy access, others take the longer route. And that’s okay. I’ve never wanted to waste energy comparing paths. I’d rather focus on what I can control… my growth, my craft, my choices. I love being in workshops, learning and evolving. That gives me far more satisfaction than thinking about who’s getting what. I believe in doing the work quietly and letting that speak for itself.

Your first co-star was the great Kamal Haasan. Your memories? 
I was just a curious little kid on set, and Kamal Haasan was so kind and generous. Even with me. What I really value now is that no one mollycoddled me. They treated me like an equal, like I had a voice. And as a child, that does something to you, it makes you feel seen. And I still remember Kamal sir sitting through four hours of prosthetics every morning, never complaining. Watching that kind of patience and discipline at such a young age really stayed with me. Looking back, I feel so grateful that I got to work with such legends, like Kamal Haasan, Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Johnny walker and Tabu. I didn’t realise it then, but those early experiences shaped me in more ways than I knew.

You were recently seen playing two strong yet contrasting characters in Metro… In Dino and Aap Jaisa Koi. How did you approach these characters and was your take away from them? 
Both Anurag Da (Basu) and Vivek Soni have such different ways of working.. With Dada, you find out what the scene is on the day. There’s no overthinking. You just show up and dive in. And there’s a thrill in that… it keeps you in the moment. It’s unpredictable, but it’s also very liberating. With Vivek, it was the complete opposite. Everything was prepped. We had gone through the scenes, discussed the sur of each moment. So on the day of the shoot I was very clear.

Shruti, in Metro… In Dino, was very raw. She wore her emotions on her sleeve. Whatever she felt, it showed… there was no filter… her words were not measured. Madhu Bose, in Aap Jaisa Koi, was the exact opposite. Very internal. Very restrained. Even in anger, she never raised her voice. It was all quietly simmering underneath… That was a conscious choice Vivek and I made. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would land. I kept wondering if the stillness would still reach people. If it was enough or not. But I’m glad we took that risk… Through these characters, I learnt how to trust my instincts more and not second guess them.

Is there any recent film you wish you were part of?
Bhoothakaalam and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The female protagonist in these two films really stayed with me… One was quiet and haunting, the other was sharp and fearless. I would’ve loved to be part of stories like that.

Tell me about your forthcoming films?
There is Gustakh Ishq with Vijay Verma and Naseer ji, produced by Manish Malhotra. I am really excited for this one, it’s a very special film. And I have also done my first series with Applause Entertainment, which was a completely new experience for me. Now I am just waiting for them to officially announce it.

As a young woman, do you feel less safe in the entertainment industry than the star daughters?
I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience. I only know mine and I’ve been fortunate to work with teams that have been respectful and professional. I feel our film industry today is much more self-aware. There are clearer boundaries, stronger rules in place, and conversations around safety and consent are being taken seriously. That’s a big step forward.

Also Read: Fatima Sana Shaikh opens up on redefining female lead on screen: “We don’t see women in comedy films”

Tags : Aap Jaisa Koi, Bollywood, Bollywood Features, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Features, Interview, Netflix, Netflix India, OTT, OTT Platform, R Madhavan, Social Media

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