Showing posts with label Fatima Sana Shaikh interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fatima Sana Shaikh interview. Show all posts
For female actors, the range of roles available is still quite limited-Fatima Sana Shaikh
3:05 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; June 13, 2026)
Fatima Sana Shaikh isn’t shy about admitting she wants stardom. But for her, recognition means little without work that challenges her. Even after earning acclaim for performances across films and streaming projects, she says she is still searching for roles that push her beyond her comfort zone.
“For female actors, the range of roles available is still quite limited. We’re craving layered, grey and negative characters. I still haven’t found something that completely satisfies that need to explore and truly challenge myself as an actor,” she says.
That pursuit, she believes, is essential to survive in the industry. “Because I think if that ends, then your growth is stunted. That’s the beauty – or the drawback – of this industry. It’s Friday to Friday. No matter where you are in your career, you have to start again,” she says.
‘I wish I had at least one person in my life who’d just say I’ve done a great job’
In an industry where validation is never in short supply, Fatima says she values people who keep her grounded.
“I wish I had at least one person in my life who would just say I’ve done a great job,” she laughs. “My manager tells me ten things what I’ve not done right, and that’s good. These are the people who are my reality check. They are my mirrors. If I don’t have them, then I don’t know… it’s not a good place to be in. It’s a nice bubble to live in where people think you’re amazing, but it’s a bubble. It’s not that they are working for me; I am working for them. It’s a relationship,” she adds.
For all her emphasis on craft, Fatima is candid about wanting a wider audience. She says, “Everybody wants stardom. It’s basically people appreciating your work – a lot of people appreciating your work. They connect with you, either off screen or on screen, and you become someone they relate to or aspire to. I want to be that person. I hope I find my tribe and touch enough lives to receive that kind of love. But that can only happen with hard work, destiny and luck. You have to find the right film, the right thing.”
‘I still question myself but in a positive way’
The Dangal actress admits she is rarely satisfied with her own work. “I’m never happy with my performance. I feel I’m not good enough — but that helps me, though not in a self-deprecating way anymore,” she shares.
Fatima recalls a time when self-doubt became counterproductive, affecting both her growth and mental health. Over time, however, she has learned to channel it differently.
“Earlier, it used to really stop me from being a better version of myself. It would affect my mental health. It would stop me from growing, from taking risks. Now that has shifted. I’m still questioning myself. I’m still not happy with whatever I do. But now, at least, it’s in a positive way. I’m taking that self-doubt to propel myself as an artiste rather than to put myself down,” says Fatima, who was last seen in Gustaakh Ishq opposite Vijay Varma.
Of course, if a role I want goes to Sanya Malhotra, I could feel jealous-Fatima Sana Shaikh
9:24 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 19, 2025)
While Fatima Sana Shaikh had a very busy 2024, the audience didn’t see her on the big screen or on OTT all through last year. However, the Dangal actress is unperturbed by the waiting game.
She explains, “When you are shooting, your mind stays focused on the work, so you don’t stress. But when you’re sitting at home with no shooting schedule, that’s when the panic sets in. The release of a project isn’t in the actor’s hands—it depends on so many factors. We can only keep shooting and moving forward. I worked a lot in 2024, and I want to see how people perceive me when my projects release this year.”
‘I want to see if there’s a shift or a change in the way I’m positioned’
Talking about the kind of work that inspires her, Fatima says, “With the kind of work I am doing now, I want to see if there’s a shift or a change in the way I’m positioned. I have bigger dreams for myself, but it’s not about stardom. I want to do films that transcend borders and leave a deep impact, not just emotionally, but also in a way that a film like Andaz Apna Apna had on people.”
Apart from Metro… In Dino, she will also be seen in the romantic comedy Aap Jaisa Koi with R Madhavan, among other projects.
Fatima also believes that actors like Anushka Sharma and Konkona Sen Sharma made a smart move by branching into production, and she hopes to follow suit in the future. “Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha are also producing some amazing projects. Actors need to think this way because sometimes we don’t get the opportunities we want. So, we have to create our own,” she says.
‘The market is tough right now’
Fatima doesn’t hesitate to approach producers if the project excites her. “I am trying to collaborate with people, but the market is tough right now. There are a lot of projects out there, but they’re not the ones that attract me. I’m realistic about myself, my talent, and my positioning. I know what I can offer to a producer. I can’t expect them to invest Rs. 100 crore in me. I sometimes chase projects I’m passionate about.”
‘There is always some level of competition and insecurity in life’
Dangal was a breakout film for both Fatima and Sanya Malhotra, and the two became good friends after working together. However, as their careers grew, they both went down different paths.
When asked if there’s ever been a sense of rivalry, jealousy or competition between them, Fatima says, “There is always some level of competition and insecurity in life. I understand that people feel jealous, but how you handle that jealousy defines you. Of course, if a role I want goes to her, I could feel jealous or insecure. But I don’t let my insecurities take over. I’m genuinely happy for Sanya.”
I truly believe that you don’t have to be rich to travel-Fatima Sana Shaikh
2:16 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2024)
Fatima Sana Shaikh, an avid traveller, loves going on backpacking adventures. Be it desi locales or foreign destinations, the actress has a penchant for exploring new places and the local culture and cuisine. Fatima, who was struck by wanderlust much later in her life, says, “As a kid, I would only go to Jammu and Kashmir, during my summer vacations, and I would enjoy those times. It was only later in life that I started travelling more. I truly believe that you don’t have to be rich to travel.”
‘I want to explore the North-East and places in South India’
Fatima loves travelling abroad, but she also enjoys exploring our country. “I love travelling in India because the demographic of the country is so varied. There’s everything from mountains and beaches to winter destinations and deserts, and the cultural experience is extremely diverse across the country. While I have seen many parts of India, I want to explore the North-East and places in South India,” she says.
‘I travel to find peace’
The actress, who was last seen in Sam Bahadur, shares that every time she feels low, she picks up her bags and takes off to some destination, which helps her find peace. She says, “Dharamshala and other places in Himachal are the go-to places for me. The moment I feel I need to get out of the city, I go to the mountains. Sometimes, I take Bijlee (her pet dog) along, or I go solo. When you are in the mountains, you are at peace. It’s the most beautiful sight to see the sun rising and setting there. It’s almost like watching a live painting when you see the sky changing colours.”
‘I splurge only on flight tickets and take non-stop flights’
Over the years, Fatima has figured out travel hacks that suit her. She shares, “I splurge only on flight tickets and take non-stop flights. Usually, when I travel, I prefer staying at rental places or my friend’s homes. I also walk a lot. You just need to be a smart traveller and plan well.”
While Fatima enjoys travelling solo, she says she has also been lucky to have friends who proved to be great travel buddies. She says, “I have been fortunate enough to have friends who would go out, and I would tag along for free when I had limited means. My first such trip with them was to Goa. I went on three such trips with my friends, and they stepped in because I had only minimal savings each time. When I started working, I could do the same for them.”
Fatima’s advice for solo travellers
Ask her what are the precautions she takes when traveling solo, and she says, “My advice to solo travellers, and this is something that I always follow, is - keep checking your IDs and wallet and have a backup plan in case you lose your phone. Also, keep the number of the local police station and ambulance handy always, and be informed about the nearest hospital.”
Fatima’s most memorable work trip
Her most memorable work trip was the outdoor shoot of Chachi 420 (1997), in which she featured as a child artiste. She recalls, “I was four years old, and we were shooting in Chennai. We stayed at this beautiful hotel with a swimming pool and a beach near it. I still remember the smell of the area, as there were certain flowers that bloomed combined with the geeli mitti ki khushboo because of the rain.”
Fatima Sana Shaikh bats for therapy: I am much kinder to me than I used to be
9:42 AM
The actress talks about seeking therapy and how it has changed her life
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 30, 2023)
"Which Bollywood celebrity needs to go to a shrink?' used to be one of the questions on a celebrity chat show's infamous rapid-fire segment. The question was an attempt to put down people who take therapy. With evolution of time, that mockery mindset has also evolved. In recent times, several Bollywood actors have opened up about opting for therapy to deal with mental health issues.
In an exclusive chat with BT, Fatima Sana Shaikh speaks about why it is important to seek help when needed. “I have gone in for therapy, and that’s why I am here one-and-a-half years later. It is important. I feel everybody should go in for therapy. It’s not because you are emotionally weak, they (therapists) give you tools to understand your pattern. Therapy has helped me. Our minds are complicated. Even if you think you don’t need it, you should try it to discover yourself,” Fatima shares.
'I needed a lot of validation from the outside'
From being overly self-critical to being pragmatic, Fatima says she has come a long way. “I was very judgmental about myself. I have not been kind to myself. I needed a lot of validation from the outside to feel that I was good as a person. I associated self-love with narcissism and was extremely hard on myself,” she confesses. It has taken the actress a while to change her thought process. So, is she kind to herself now? “I have to practice it. I am kinder to myself than I used to be. It’s a pattern that you have to break. You keep going back to it, but you need to keep pushing,” she replies.
'It took me four years to find a therapist'
While it may be easier for her to talk about her therapy today, she reveals that it is a “process”. She shares, “It took me four years to find a therapist and be open about it. I used to think therapist ko mere problem ke baare mein kya pata hoga. First, you need to understand that it’s okay to seek help. That’s the beginning and it’s going to be very difficult. We are considered weak when we ask for help. I also had people around me who went for therapy. I had the influence of people who had great knowledge and they had great therapists. It was because of them that I was forced to explore, and then I just got curious. I wanted to decode myself to know who I am.”
I was scared of not getting work if I revealed I had epilepsy-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:36 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh reveals why she did not speak up about her being diagnosed with epilepsy earlier
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 29, 2022)
On her way, in a flight recently, actor Fatima Sana Shaikh started getting seizures. Soon she was rushed to the medical facility at the airport, then to a hospital where she had to stay for two days. Shaikh recalls, she had five clusters of seizures, and was all alone with no familiar face around. “It put my work and life on hold. For me, this was a big jhatka, I really felt lucky to have survived,” Shaikh shares, adding that while she has had big episodes in the past, this one was the most difficult to handle as she was alone. “Now I need someone to travel with me at all times,” she says.
After this episode, the actor decided to talk about her neurological condition of epilepsy for the first time on social media, which also coincided with the ongoing National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM). Talking about her condition for the first time in detail, Shaikh tells us, “I’ve not hidden it, but kabhi mauka nahi mila. I took some time to understand what it was. There’s so much stigma attached to it. You think log sochenge that you have an ailment. I didn’t want people to think I’m weak. I was scared of not getting work if I revealed I had epilepsy. I, also, didn’t want to accept that I have a neurological condition.”
Shaikh’s last episode led to her producers cancelling two days of shoot of Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur, which stars the 30-year-old. “I feel it’s my responsibility to tell my producers about my condition. I have had seizures on set before and people have taken care of it. I give them a certain protocol to follow,” she states.
The Dangal actor says that she decided to speak about it as she realised it was important to spread awareness and debunk myths. “People in rural areas think drugs kar liya, devi chadh gayi. Logon ki shaadiyan nahi hoti because people don’t know about epilepsy. They don’t get work because they become a liability,” she adds.
And while the actor admits that it is difficult to know what it feels like to go through such conditions unless you experience it firsthand, there needs to be a support system for people suffering from neurological conditions like epilepsy.
When I was a child artiste, I struggled to fit in at school-Fatima Sana Shaikh
3:45 PM
In a conversation with Bombay Times, the actress recalls her stint as a child artiste and how she later made a foray into TV and films
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 6, 2021)
Fatima Sana Shaikh, who was a leading child artiste, shared screen space with actors like Kamal Haasan (Chachi 420), Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla (One 2 Ka 4), among others. While she was appreciated for her work, in hindsight, the actress feels that her personal life suffered during that phase as she always struggled to make friends and fit in among her peers. That was one of the reasons she even bid adieu to movies.
She shares, “One of the reasons I quit acting as a child artiste was because I missed being around kids my age. I didn’t have a core set of friends in school. I was always trying to fit in. But because I was not attending school (due to film commitments), I could not connect with my classmates. Likewise, since there were adults around on a film set, they couldn’t relate to me and treated me like a bachcha.”
Fatima says, “I wasn’t spending enough time with my peers in my class, I wasn’t getting any acceptance from them. Kids can be a little cruel sometimes. They would think, ‘Achcha baahar badi star banti hai, hum dikhate hai isko’. You know many children get bullied in school, right? On one hand, I was managing shoots, which would go on for 16 hours non-stop, and on the other, I was managing school and exams. It wasn’t easy, so I decided to quit films.”
It was only when she grew up that she decided to pursue acting as her career. Her new innings, which she began by taking up television shows like (Ladies Special and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo), left her with a bitter taste. “I used to shoot for 13-14 hours at a stretch. Plus, the script would come to you minutes before the take,” she says, adding, “As an artiste, I didn’t enjoy this process at all. Some people enjoy this madness, I don’t. I like to be a little prepared. So, it was getting uncomfortable for me. I enjoy doing films because you get to play varied characters for a short span of time and then move on. Playing the same character for 15 hours every day, and that too, in a show which can run for as long as five years, was not my cup of tea.”
Fatima, who ventured into movies once again with Dangal, went on to be a part of films like Thugs Of Hindostan, Ludo and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. The actress who is busy shooting for her upcoming ventures, recently revisited a chapter of her life.
She shares, “During the lockdown, I got an opportunity to visit my old house in Andheri East, where I spent my childhood. It’s a one-room kitchen apartment where four of us — my parents, my brother and I — used to stay. I was surprised and wondered how we all fit in there, as sometimes we would have around 8-10 relatives from Jammu and Kashmir staying with us. We have sold the house now, and the new owner was very sweet to give us a tour of the house. They still have our old furniture there.”
If I have to call and remind someone that I am there and I don’t mind auditioning, it’s okay-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:08 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 19, 2021)
Having been a popular child actor and later making a mark with the Aamir Khan production, Dangal (2016), Fatima Sana Shaikh admits that she has no qualms about approaching filmmakers that she wants to work with. She doesn’t shy away from sending texts or calling people in the industry and feels at times, it is necessary.
“I do that to remind people that I exist. I don’t do a lot of films, so I am not always there. Kabhi kabhi log casting mein bhool jaate hain ki yeh bhi actor hai. It is very important to hustle. Until and unless you don’t fight for your space and your positioning, no one else will. If I have to call and remind someone that I am there and I don’t mind auditioning, it’s okay. It’s not a bad quality to have. I know of many actors who have achieved a lot in their lives by doing so. I like to create opportunities for myself and just not sit at home and wonder mere paas kaam kyun nahin hai. Aapko mehnat karni padegi aur kaam mangna padega,” she says.
She is glad that she has been able to entertain people in the last six months amid a pandemic with three releases – Ludo, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (both 2020), and the anthology Ajeeb Daastaans. “I am glad that people are getting to see my work. Eventually, you work to entertain people. Pandemic hai, things are shut, and I can’t be more grateful that people are able to see my work that I shot before the pandemic. I feel great that we have OTT platforms that are airing films, which are not able to release in theatres. We now have a new medium to connect with the audiences.”
Glad that the reaction to her last release Ajeeb Daastans was encouraging, she shares, “Many people from the industry reached out. It’s always special when people from industry appreciate your work as it gives you validation and hope. But, also the audiences’ response matters, who are the king and if they don’t like your work, it is game over.”
Earlier this year, she shot for a film with Anil Kapoor, who she admits she admires.
“He is the life of the set and an incredible person. Always excited and passionate,” she states.
She further adds, “When I sign films, it is more about instinct. My driving force is not always a big project or that this film has this big actor, and that’s why I should do it. What drives me is a good script and good director.”
During my quarantine, I would paint designs on the wall of my house-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:14 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 1, 2021)
Fatima, who loves sketching, rekindled her hobby during her quarantine. “I am happy that I started drawing again. I would paint a wall of the house using chalk paint. I would keep the artwork for a while and erase it to make a new design,” she says.
While many people reached out to her during that time, one sweet gesture that she recalls is when the co-star of a digital project, Anil Kapoor, surprised her with home-cooked food. She says, “I am a vegetarian, so he sent this all-veg fare, which included two-three sabzis, dal, rotis and jeera chawal. It was very sweet of him to do so.” She had shared a picture of the spread on social media, too.
Fatima says that she got along really well with Kapoor during the shoot. Even after the completion of the project, the two have been in touch. She says, “He is one of the sweetest people I know. I can’t tell you how amazing he is. He is always excited and full of energy. Even during the shooting schedule, he would go on treks and walks. I must say that he is the life of a film set. He is very young and current and knows what is happening. He also has such lovely experiences to share.”
Fatima further adds, “I have been in touch with him since the time I did Dangal. He has always been a well-wisher. Whenever I have met him casually we have had interesting chats. When we did this project together we connected all the more. He is someone I call for suggestions and opinions. I must say that he has been a good mentor.”
I have never been comfortable with using my sexuality openly-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:10 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh on navigating a complex character as she plays a woman seeking love outside her marriage in Ajeeb Daastaans
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 25, 2021)
Though Shashank Khaitan’s short film in Ajeeb Daastaans falls short on the promise of understanding human relationships with all their flaws and frailties, its central character, Lipakshi, holds your attention. Played by Fatima Sana Shaikh, Lipakshi is at once vulnerable and cunning as she seeks affection outside her loveless marriage. The actor says she understood her character’s motivations even though she has little in common with her. “I don’t relate to Lipakshi. My parents have never pressured me to be with somebody or lead a certain life, so that’s not my world. But I understand her need for love. Everybody looks for attention in different ways, and does stupid things for their loved ones. I have also been a hopeless lover [at one point], so I understand her core emotions,” she states.
For Shaikh, the role—that sees her seduce Armaan Rehlan’s character even as her husband, played by Jaideep Ahlawat, threatens her with dire consequences—was well out of her comfort zone. “It was difficult to be as bold as Lipakshi. I am bold in my personal life with my choices and decisions. But I have never been comfortable with using my sexuality openly as I have been a tomboy all my life.”
Among other plot points, the Netflix film highlights how society unfairly judges women who are comfortable with their sexuality. Broach the subject with Shaikh, and she says, “I think in every era, there is a generation that makes a film where women’s sexuality is not judged; then suddenly, we become regressive and start judging again. We tend to believe that a woman is ‘too modern’ or ‘too forward’ if we see her smoking. We also tend to judge men—they are told they can’t cry. So, [in a way] you are telling men to desensitise themselves. I hope people become more accepting of one another.”
Just because you have money, doesn’t mean you test often-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:03 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 24, 2021)
“There are many people who think Coronavirus is not real, bas ek naam hai,” says Fatima Sana Shaikh, who tested positive for the virus last month.
Talking about her battle, she says, “We have to realise Covid could happen to anyone. People think there’s no need to wear masks. But it is real and every other person I know is getting infected. Some are lucky and are able to get better, others are struggling. The only thing we can do is follow caution. Apart from that, you can’t do much. I had pain and discomfort in the first 10 days but I am young, and not a co-morbid case, so I recovered.”
The Ludo (2020) actor urges people to be responsible and not take it lightly. She suggests that if you feel sick, get tested and isolate yourself. “But one shouldn’t burden the system either. Just because you have money, doesn’t mean you test often. I have heard of people who get tests unnecessarily. Because of you, someone who is serious might get reports delayed and their life might be at stake,” she observes.
With the spike in cases and curfews and lockdowns imposed, Shaikh feels people should stop thinking about themselves and “be empathetic about the situation”. She adds, “Right now, the priority is not getting back to work or shooting... at the cost of people’s lives? No. We have to keep people safe, be responsible. We can’t think theatre kholna hai, so many people are falling sick and there aren’t enough hospital beds, or medical facilities.”
Amid all the tension, having garnered a positive response for her recent web release, Ajeeb Daastaans, Shaikh says she is feeling “calm” as she has some good projects at hand. “When you’re working, things feel fine. But when you’re uncertain, the idle mind troubles you. This is the second year in lockdown so we feel all sorts of emotions. I feel your mental and physical health and that you’re alive is the best gift you have,” she adds.
I don’t get upset about nepotism & unfairness-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:18 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2020)
In a chat with us at the beginning of the lockdown, you seemed anxious about not having a single film release since your Diwali release in 2018. And now, you have two films coming out almost simultaneously.
I am so relieved that finally kuch toh aaya itne time ke baad. People must have thought I had left, woh do picturein karke (laughs!). Frankly, I have worked hard and now when people are watching the songs and trailers of both the films (Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari and Ludo), I feel happy and relieved that baat aage badhi. Also, I am over that feeling of anxiousness. A lot of things have happened since our last chat. The world around us has changed. Ab mujhe apni bahut saari problems choti lagti hain. I feel I am in a better place than so many others. I am grateful for that.
Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari directed by Abhishek Sharma is a comedy set in the 1990s. You play the girl who the men — Manoj Bajpayee, the brother and Diljit Dosanjh, the lover — are fighting over. What drew you to this film?
It was a combination of things. The cast is brilliant. I loved the script. I’ve also loved Abhishek Sharma’s films — Tere Bin Laden (2010) and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018). The project ticked many boxes for me. Plus, the era is familiar to me. I’m a 1990s kid. I belong to that generation. It’s an urban character and it didn’t feel like this was too far off. What I also feel is that emotions are the same, irrespective of which time zone the story is set in. The tools to connect and communicate change, but we still say the same things. I got a lot of help from the film’s writing. It was nuanced. My character is from a simple, Maharashtrian family. She’s sincere and shaant, but she has another side which she keeps away from the family.
You were juggling Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari and Ludo at the same time. Was that too much to handle?
Frankly, there was no struggle. With Ludo, one had no clue what we were shooting the next day. Dada (Anurag Basu) always asked us to trust him and to go with the flow. I followed his instructions to the T and now whatever it is, it’s his doing entirely. He drew out the performances from all of us. But I have to admit that I had fun working with him. With Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, I was stressed to deliver my best while enacting scenes with so many talented names. There was no room for me to fumble. The only difficult task at hand was to bring in the Maharashtrian accent and internalise the qualities of the character I am playing. But I didn’t have to switch on and off much between my roles in both the films. Other than these things, I am still figuring out what sort of an actress I am. I think I am learning a lot on the sets of my films, while I am doing scenes. I don’t know much about the artiste in me. I hope I find her soon, bas woh karte karte kahin barbaad na ho jaaoon.
Does acting make you feel liberated; does it give you room to let your real emotions pour out without anyone noticing?
I think I am more comfortable playing characters than playing myself. While playing a part, you can be who you want to be without being judged. Even if you are expressing your own emotions on the screen while doing that, it’s still something that you’re enacting which is written by someone else. No one will judge you for that. I feel very liberated in front of a camera. I can be anything and anyone. There is nothing better than having the chance to live so many lives and emotions in one lifetime.
In the course of the lockdown, the industry was under the radar for nepotism, alleged drug addiction and more, following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. As someone from a non-film family, you had a stint as a child actor, and now, you are a leading lady. How did all those conversations and news reports make you feel?
These things don’t affect me at all. People have time to talk about this today. Tomorrow, they will find some new topics to discuss. I don’t get upset about nepotism and unfairness. Every industry and every generation has seen things which are unfair. It has always been about the survival of the fittest. Nepotism is a part of every industry, not just cinema. If I have gone through the struggle, made a lot of effort and created a space under the sun, I would like my child to be the next in line for the space that I created. I wouldn’t like him or her to go through the grind. It would be totally unfair if there was no opening for outsiders. We have Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Manoj Bajpayee and others who are stars, despite being outsiders to the business. I am getting work. Siddhant Chaturvedi is an outsider whose work speaks for itself. So many of us have been embraced by this industry. So, what is the point of cribbing? We knew when we entered that there will be an Us v/s Them situation; it was an unfair game from the word go. If you want things to change, you will have to make the change yourself. That will create a tomorrow which is different from today. Being bitter is not an answer to anything. Voicing opinions is great, attacking is not.
You’ve been in Dharamshala for two months now. How does stepping out in the new normal feel?
It feels normal; as humans, we adjust and adapt so quickly to things around us. As a race, we have seen so many things and braved it all to tell the tale. Wearing a mask is second nature now. Six months ago, it would have felt like an ordeal. It doesn’t hurt anymore.
Since the pandemic, my approach in life has changed. I have become more positive-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:45 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 28, 2020)
Fatima Sana Shaikh is pleased that her film Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari is releasing soon. The cherry on the cake for her is that it is releasing in the theatres. Intimidated by co-star Manoj Bajpayee, she shares, “When I heard the script, I was blown away by the cast. I signed the film as I wanted to work with Manoj sir, Diljit (Dosanj) and director Abhishek Sharma. Working with the talented Manoj sir is was quite enriching. I was nervous about performing in front of him but he made me quite comfortable. Doing a situational comedy was a first for me, so while acting, I learnt my strengths and weaknesses.”
While it is good news that the film will release in theatres, but with the pandemic, the footfalls might not be as expected. The Dangal (2016) actor is unfazed. “I try not to think about these things. I am focusing on the fact that two of my films will release soon. Pandemic and Coronavirus are the new normal and we have to live with it. Since the pandemic, my approach in life has changed. I have become more positive. I hope for the best.”
She has had a few releases in the last few years and doesn’t mind the slow growth. Talking about her career trajectory, she says, “I am instinct-driven. I take on movies that I would enjoy as an audience. Pata nahin kitna sahi ya galat hai yeh but I am following my heart for now. I don’t have a road map for my career.”
I’m a sleazy Shah Rukh Khan fan who stalks him on social media-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:44 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh on having the superstar on her wish list, hounding Anurag Basu for another film, paragliding misadventures in Bir, and being scared about resuming work
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 28, 2020)
Unlike her peers who documented every detail of their lockdown life on the social media, Fatima Sana Shaikh chose to go off the radar, and when rules were relaxed, took off to a friend’s home in Dharamshala to do what she loves—trek, click, and chill. She has been in the hills for two months, and only now, on her team’s insistence, has been posting regular updates of her adventures there.
She was last seen in India’s paragliding capital, Bir, but one didn’t get to see outtakes of her cruising in the sky. “I did paraglide; it started very smoothly, and I felt like a bird. I was asking the person in charge what kind of customers irritated him the most and he replied that the ones who got scared and threw up. After 10 minutes, I started feeling sick myself and told him I wanted to get back on the ground. He was sweet enough to switch off the camera and let me throw up privately,” she chuckles, pointing out that because of the sudden altitude change, the body goes into shock.
She admits that the Coronavirus triggered pandemic, followed by the countrywide shutdown, which hit work schedules for a toss was annoying initially, but she quickly got used to staying at home. “You can be home even when the whole world is working, but that causes anxiety. This time, since the industry had ground to a halt, there was no question of lagging behind. Now, I’m scared to go back to work,” confesses Fatima, who wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming release, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, just as the clock struck 12, the day before the lockdown came into effect.
The actress plays a Marathi mulgi in this year’s Diwali release and admits that getting the dialect right was easier than learning Haryanvi for Dangal since she was born and brought up in Maharashtra. “My worry was keeping up with the stalwarts. Since I entered the film late, and had to get into reading sessions immediately, I was convinced that veterans like Annu Kapoor, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Seema and Manoj Pahwa, as also my more accomplished co-stars, Manoj Bajpayee, and Diljit Dosanjh, would think I was a novice if I fumbled my lines, so, I was over prepared,” she laughs.
Would she ever hire a private investigator to spy on a prospective groom, you wonder, and an incredulous Fatima retorts, “After going through heartbreak, my stalking skills are unbelievable. I only have to scan social media timelines to learn everything there is to know about a person—whose pics they ‘like’, their location, everything.”
In the trailer, one sees her character’s transform from a sanskari ladki who is the embodiment of the ‘Bhartiya Naari’ into a rebel who fights her detective brother at every step. In real-life too, the actress shares a similar relationship with her brother. “We are always squabbling, though during the lockdown, he helped me shoot from home. I love him; he is a sweet boy,” she says fondly.
Fatima landed the film when she bumped into friend Abhishek Vyas and complained to him that she was jobless. He took her for a narration, where the film’s director Abhishek Sharma offered her his jacket because she was cold. “Before I knew it, I was on board. On the sets, Abhishek, Manoj sir and I were the three musketeers. I was going through some issues at the time and they helped me deal with it. Even now, I keep messaging them and they motivate me. Unlike my non-industry friends, they understand the challenges and empathise with me,” relays the actress, who has another release next month in Anurag Basu’s Ludo. “I’m more excited than anxious about two back-to-back releases because my last film had opened in 2018,” she adds.
Talk about the crime anthology and Fatima lights up. “The shoot was a breeze. I’ve played such strong characters that people, especially in small towns, take a while to recognise me as Fatima. Raj (Rajkummar Rao, co-star) can also go around incognito. Together, we danced at the baraats of strangers and went about town without getting mobbed,” she exults, remembering how Raj would groove to Mithun Chakraborty’s “Gun Master G9” song from Surakksha during the shoot.
Though she has only one scene with buddy Sanya Malhotra in the film, Fatima was happy to reunite with her. “Also, working with Dada (Anurag Basu) is so much fun, but I am not satisfied with the limited time we got together and have been hounding him since, for a full-fledged film,” she admits, adding that she’d have happily exchanged places with Raj’s Mithun fan or Pearle Maaney’s nurse.
The actress plans to return to the Maximum City in the first week of November, and has three films lined up. “There’s a romance, a revenge-drama, and a film whose genre I am yet to figure,” she chuckles, saying she wants to try everything to figure out her aces and weaknesses. But when it comes to co-stars, she has only one person on her wish list. “Mera pyaar, Shah Rukh Khan. I’m a sleazy SRK fan who stalks him on social media, writes, ‘I love you’ on his posts and expects a reaction, and watches all his interviews, even those from his kids’ school graduation,” she signs off.
Lockdown has been enjoyable for me-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:31 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh has packed in a lot, from dabbling in photography to shooting & directing a music video; a wedding comedy is up next
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 26, 2020)
Five months of being locked in may have driven many over the edge, but Fatima Sana Shaikh has enjoyed chilling at home. “Lockdown has been enjoyable for me. I’m a very private person and hardly attended any social gathering even when life was normal. When I went out, I’d often go unrecognized because people were looking for Dangal’s Geeta, the same body type and hair, and I was very different. Sometimes, they come up to me looking confused and wonder if I was really Geeta and just to test them, I’d say no,” she admits, breaking into peals of laughter, and admits that now no one follows her downstairs when she goes out for a walk. “I’m not a star yet,” she reasons.
To keep herself occupied, the actress brought home a hyper active puppy, Bijli, who’s kept her busy through the Coronavirus lockdown. That apart, Fatima has been honing her photography skills for the collaborative work she is doing. “I’m exploring editing and following the works of some well-known editors and cinematographers. I dabbled in bird photography which required a fair amount of research. Soon, I hope to head for Dharamshala, my favourite holiday spot, for some travel clicks,” she informs.
Her camera skills came in handy recently when she did a music video with Vishal Bhardwaj, based on a poem by Dr Bashir Badr, “Palkein Kholo”. “The song is about appreciating people around us during these unprecedented times. I’ve been pestering Vishal sir to make a film with me and when he made me this offer, I jumped at it,” she exults, adding that she also got a chance to direct herself in it. “Vishal sir asked me for my inputs, then, gave me the freedom to shoot the music video the way I wanted.”
She points out the National Award-winning filmmaker-composer must have expected her to opt for a static camera, but wanting to impress him with her photography skills, she got creative, shooting on the road and inside her house, with her brother as her one-man crew. “Even Bijli makes an appearance in the song. She is lucky to debut in a Vishal Bhardwaj music video. Even if she steals the limelight, I would be a proud mother,” Fatima chuckles.
So, will she move behind the camera next? “No, shooting is just a hobby. Managing myself is different from managing a whole unit. I just want to please the director as an actor,” she asserts, adding that now she wants to be directed by Vishal. “On a real set.”
Fatima will next be seen in the Abhishek Sharma-directed wedding comedy, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, and she is happy it isn’t releasing soon or on the OTT platform. “I don’t want people to see my work in this situation,” she reasons, adding that working on the film was amazing as she was shooting with talented people like Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Abhishek himself. “Manoj ji is a senior actor but so humble, with perfect work ethics. I recently watched his 2017 psychological drama, Gali Guleiyan, and called him to ask how he had come up with such a brilliant performance. Wah!”
Just when I was hoping my films would move ahead, the pandemic put them on hold-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:01 AM
The actress talks about how she has been spending quality time with her family during the lockdown, the insecurities of showbiz and the need to keep oneself relevant at all times
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 23, 2020)
From your social media profile, it’s evident that you love being outdoors. So, how are you handling this phase of being homebound?
I’m a restless person and I can’t stay indoors for very long. So, throughout the day, I go to the terrace a couple of times. Other than that, I spend time chilling with my family and reading books. As for my workout, I go up and down the building’s staircase a few times, and also do functional training at home, which does not need equipment. I force my brother to keep me company in all of this and he never says no. My family is happy to see me around. We live in the same building, but in different apartments. Usually, they don’t see much of me because I keep travelling for work commitments, but the Coronavirus lockdown has given us plenty of time to catch up on conversations.
It’s been almost 18 months since your last release (Thugs Of Hindostan). It was your second film (after Dangal) and it failed to click with the audience. Did you introspect on what happened and the way ahead?
I didn’t have any outings last year because all my projects were getting pushed around for dates or due to technical issues. This is the nature of our business; once you’re done shooting, there’s nothing you can do except wait and watch. That’s sometimes disappointing for actors because all their hard work is sitting in a can, waiting to be shown to people. And just when we were hoping that my films would move ahead, the pandemic put everything on hold. Thankfully, we wrapped up Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari a day before the lockdown. Let’s hope things get back to normal, soon.
Many child actors become full-time actors after growing up, but most of them don’t find their way around. What has your experience been like? You started off as a child actor, who grew up and went through several auditions before landing the lead role in Dangal...
I continue to audition for roles and I think that’s fine. After Dangal, I was accepted in the industry, but post Thugs Of Hindostan, things changed. The most difficult part is to stay relevant, especially when you are not working as much as others. This industry gets so many newcomers every year that someone launched a while back, becomes redundant. They forget about you and that is scary. At times, I fear that I will not get more work because when I look around, everyone wants to team up with the current favourite in the market. However, I came to terms with that realisation early on in my career. I have promised myself that I will make the most of this time. I am not great at approaching people, but I believe in shamelessly and yet, organically, letting them know that I want to work with them.
Under normal circumstances, you are barely seen socialising or hanging out with your peers. Have you managed to find friends in this industry?
Anurag (Basu, director) dada is someone I call when I am confused. Another person I speak to is Manoj Bajpayee, who I just worked with in Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. These are the people I am usually in touch with and I have grown fond of them. About making friends, I get along with my colleagues and peers pretty easily, but I also disconnect just as quickly. The moment we wrap a film, I go back into my shell. I like it that way.
If I do get to work with Shah Rukh Khan, main tyag doongi har cheez-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:24 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 11, 2020)
Her last release was Thugs of Hindostan in 2018, and since then Fatima Sana Shaikh has been absent from the big screen. However, the actor during this period was busy shooting for films that will hit the theatres this year beginning with Anurag Basu’s ensemble cast film, Ludo.
“This year is good for me. Bhoot Police got pushed but I got Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. I started shooting for the film with Manoj Bajpayee and Diljit Dosanjh, this year. Also, my other projects will be out, which includes Ludo and also a short film. I’m hoping that Suraj... will also release this year. Other than that, I’ll be working on other projects. I’m having a lot of fun shooting for this film,” shares Fatima.
The actor, who turns 28 today, is going to have a working birthday as she is currently filming Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. But Fatima is not complaining. “As a kid, I used to eagerly wait for surprises. But, now, I just don’t want anyone to give me any surprises. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better way to celebrate my birthday. The greatest gift that an actor can ever get is ki kaam mil raha hai. I want to work and I’m happy doing that,” says Fatima, who started her acting career as a child with Chachi 420 (1997). It was in 2016 that she re-entered Bollywood as an adult with Aamir Khan’s Dangal.
Fatima may not have any grand birthday celebration plans, but the actor does have a birthday wish. “I want to be on a film set every day of my life. I just want to keep getting more and more work,” she says.
The actor also has one more unfulfilled wish and that is to work with Shah Rukh Khan. And if reports are to be believed, then this dream might come true soon. However, Fatima says she has not signed a film with Khan yet. “I don’t know that something like this is on the cards. Working with Shah Rukh is my biggest dream. If I do get to work with him, main tyag doongi har cheez. That’s it for me. All the dreams that I have with films will get fulfilled when that happens. As of now, I don’t know anything about it, but I would love to work with him,” says Fatima.
I can afford to explore the world now-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:22 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh, who turns 28 today, on why she travelled widely in 2019 and bonding with co-star Rajkummar Rao
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 11, 2020)
Fatima Sana Shaikh is glad to be working today, her 28th birthday. The actress is shooting for her next with Manoj Bajpayee in the city but has made sure to keep the day low-key. “Every year, my friends come over at midnight to wish me, but this time I’ve warned them not to as I have to work the next day and I need rest,” she laughs.
After a relatively laidback 2019, Fatima is gearing up for the new year with three films, including Anurag Basu’s Ludo and the horror-comedy, Bhoot Police. She is to start shooting for a new film soon but “can’t delve into it right now”.
“It wasn’t a conscious decision,” she says about her no-release 2019, adding that she spent the time travelling and reading “My life was limited to a specific area while growing up. We, as a family, never had travel plans. The most we’d do was travel once in four-five years to our native place. It was always an aspiration for me to see the world and I can afford to explore now,” she beams.
Fatima is excited to foray into the comedy genre with her Bajpayee co-starrer, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. She is also looking forward to Anurag Basu’s anthology film Ludo, in which she is paired with Rajkummar Rao. “He is a sweetheart, a very professional and giving actor. I loved working with him and Basu sir. All of us have a bad sense of humour, so we would crack lame jokes and laugh together,” she shares.
The actress is also ecstatic about revisiting the ’90s with Ludo. “As a ’90s child, I have seen the change and shift in technology and lifestyle, and I am getting a chance to go back in that world,” she smiles.
Social media is an extended part of me-Fatima Sana Shaikh
6:58 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 20, 2019)
Fatima Sana Shaikh has impressed netizens with her girl-next-door avatar on her social media accounts which is a trove that abounds in candid portraits, street photography, snapshots with animals, and photographs from vacations. “I feel like capturing the beauty of everyday life,” Fatima says. For the Dangal (2016) actor, designing a strategy for using social media would tamper with who she really is. Excerpts:
Your social media is proof that you are quite the girl next door. Is that part of your strategy?
I have no strategy when it comes to social media. I’ve always uploaded the things I wanted to. Social media is an extended part of me and that’s what is interesting to other people. If my fans like me on social media, there’s nothing better because then I don’t have to pretend at all.
Your love for animals is evident from your Instagram feed.
I love them. That’s why you’ll see a lot of pictures of me with animals on my social media page. My brother and I foster kittens. If an animal is in some kind of trouble, we make sure that we take them to a shelter for help. It’s something that has been a part of us as I’ve always seen my father doing it.
Your love for street photography is also quite evident. What fascinates you about it?
I love it because there’ so much to see. I always have good conversations with the people who I capture through my lens. I randomly approach people and then ask them if they’ll be okay with me clicking them as I have been rebuked at times.
Do you let trolls affect you?
I’ve become desensitized when it comes to being trolled. I love staying in my own world. I’m happy that my work keeps me distracted. Trolls are just noise.
How important a tool is social media for actors?
Social media is an outlet for a lot of people. There are a lot of actors who still aren’t on social media. My being on social media isn’t born out of necessity, but because I enjoy being on it. If I feel like I’m not enjoying it, I’ll delete my accounts.
What is your social media detox like?
Every now and then, I go off social media because I’ve always been very conscious about how much time I’m spending on my phone. I have two phones currently, one is my work phone and the other is my personal phone which has no social media applications apart from WhatsApp. I’m trying to find a balance and a way to enjoy the moments in the present.
As soon as I finish a film, I wonder what’s next-Fatima Sana Shaikh
7:40 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh is all set to return to screen in March with Anurag Basu’s crime anthology; kicks off a horror-comedy with Saif Ali Khan in January
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 22, 2019)
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s life looks like a travelogue. From Macau and McLeodganj to Beijing and Turkey, the actress is living out of suitcases and loving it. But it’s not all play. Despite being a box-office debacle, Thugs Of Hindostan bagged her an award for her action scenes, presented by Jackie Chan and Adrien Brody. “After collecting my award, I went to Jackie Chan’s room, where many top actors from the Chinese film industry were present. They immediately recognised me as the Dangal girl and were excited to meet me. It was surreal!” she exults.
The actress, however, admits that she lost out on a film she’d been finalised for because Thugs... didn’t bring the numbers. “It’s plain business,” she says, matter-of-factly, going on to point out that now casting is done taking the number of Instagram followers and who you are friends with into account. “I don’t attend parties unless I know the host and the guests. If it is only about pictures, I can click and upload them myself, but to pay for people to dress you up and click you for an event, is not organic. I’d rather use the money to travel.”
Fatima has just wrapped up Anurag Basu’s next (below), a crime anthology of four stories, which pairs her with Rajkummar Rao. “For the first time, I play a normal woman in a sari on screen. After battling for a medal in the ring and performing superhuman, gravity-defying stunts, this one was a breeze,” she smiles, adding they would start the day’s shoot with breakfast on the set, followed by long gossip sessions while the scene was being set up. “After quickly wrapping up the shot, it was back to more gossip.” Didn’t the director reprimand them? With a chuckle, Fatima relays that he was a part of the addas and had amazing stories to share. “Dada would also break into a dance when he felt like it and we joined in.”
While most filmmakers do away with music in crime dramas, Fatima assures this one will have Basu’s signature tunes, with an overall fun vibe. “We shot for songs, but haven’t heard any of them yet as they are recorded much later. Even in Jagga Jasoos, he had done the same and yet everything looked so coordinated on screen,” she reasons.
Meanwhile, the shoot of the horror-comedy, Bhoot Police, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Ali Fazal, has been pushed to January 2020. Insisting she wasn’t the reason behind the delay, the actress adds, “It’s a very urban character, again a first for me. I’m a fattu at heart and am already dreading the shoot. As long as I am on the set with people around me, I’ll be fine. But as soon as I’m alone in my room, meri barbaadi hone wali hai.”
The team is expected to shoot in Darjeeling and the hills can get spooky. So, what is her contingency plan? Fatima sheepishly admits that since she lives alone and gets scared by the tiniest of noises at night, she has an arsenal of soft toys. “There’s a particular teddy bear that’s my bodyguard. I’m going to take it along and sleep with it. Also, you will immediately identify my room in the hotel because the lights will never be turned off through the night. I have asked them to give me a room in the middle,” she confides.
But that won’t stop the prankster in her and she plans to make the most of the setting by spooking others. “I used to prank Sanya and AK (Aamir Khan) all the time. I have so much footage of them screaming their lungs out. They get scared so easily that even if I go ‘Boo’ as they come out of the loo, they’d be terrified,” she recalls, between chuckles. But what if the tables turn and she ends up getting pranked? Almost as if challenging her co-stars, Fatima quips, “What will they do? Drop a lizard on me? Well, I find them cute because they help keep the house clean. What’s not to love about them.”
Meanwhile, Fatima has been putting up clips showing off her daredevilry, but reveals that her heart was in her mouth when she was attempting them. Now, the only thing left to try is skydiving. For the moment she is happy learning new skating tricks from YouTube. “It’s only a hobby and takes me outdoors, otherwise I would spend hours bingeing on online content on my phone. I scatter books all around the house so that I see them, feel guilty and picking one up, start reading,” she grins.
Her dad has started accompanying her on her trips. “I started flying business class only when the production houses started paying for my ticket. And when I got an opportunity, I took him on a trip with me. It was the first time he was flying business class. I taught him how things functioned and he was proud of me,” beams the actress who is reconnecting with her parents after what she terms a “rebellious phase”. “For them, I’m not a celeb and we keep fighting all the time.
You take people around you for granted and try to connect with strangers; but in the process, you are estranged from your own family,” she points out, admitting she has “calmed” down a bit now. So, what’s top priority on her bucket list? Pat comes the answer, “I want to buy a house,” And what about work? “As soon as I finish one film, I wonder what’s next. At that time, it doesn’t matter how famous I am or who recognizes me,” she signs off.
Between shots, Kamal Haasan and Tabu would bring me treats and treat me like royalty-Fatima Sana Shaikh
7:45 AM
As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 9, 2019)
The first time I ever faced the camera was for Chachi 420. I was five at the time of shooting and didn’t understand what being on a set meant. I was just happy to be on a holiday with my family in Madras (Chennai), where the film was shot. When you are the only child on a set, you inadvertently become the apple of everyone’s eye. I remember being pampered a lot by everyone on the set, including Kamal Haasan sir and Tabu. Between shots, they would bring me treats and treat me like royalty.We were filming the court scene on my first day and for the shot itself, my brief was to cry when the judge announces that my parents are being divorced and that my father will be able to meet me only on Fridays under supervision. I was sitting next to Om Puri sir for the scene and Kamal sir told me where to look and what my expression should be like. I had to cry and then smile when he gestured me to, breaking down when he finally looks away and breaks down at the judgement himself. We also filmed the other scene, where I ask my ‘papa’ to button up his shirt before going on the stand, giving him a thumbs-up before he proceeds. I had to look jubilant while doing it, and appear sheepish when my mother in the film glares at me, placating her with a thumbs-up too.
My mother was also around, behind the camera, somewhere I could see her. But I wasn’t nervous at all. It was like play-acting. Children have no inhibitions; they are completely open and natural. It is when you grow up that you become conscious of yourself and wonder what you will look like on screen. Back then, I just wanted to enjoy whatever was happening and then go out to play.
For Dangal, however, I was a nervous wreck during my first shot because it was with Aamir Khan. It was the scene where Geeta comes back from the hostel, rebelling with long hair that her father always protested against and insisted they chop it short. Her father only makes a remark about it in the scene but he knows it is an act of defiance. We had rehearsed it well before, but I was sure they will regret casting me for the film. Luckily, we canned it in two-three takes. While Aamir didn’t say anything, Nitesh sir walked up to me and offered some words of encouragement.
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