Fatima Sana Shaikh started off as a child artiste. You probably remember her as a cherubic kid in films like Chachi 420 (1997) and One 2 Ka 4 (2001). The child then grew up and made an explosive entry with Dangal (2016) as wrestling prodigy Geeta Phogat. She’s been quite picky in her choices, choosing films which aren’t mere big budget productions but where she has tons to do as well. She wants to stay relevant as an actor and doesn’t shy away from pushing the envelope to achieve that goal. She talks about finding herself as a person through acting in this engaging conversation.
Dhak Dhak was about feeling liberal and overcoming your fears. What are other things that make you feel liberal?
Riding a bike or leaving the house to work does not provide a sense of freedom and generosity. It is important to consider how you conduct yourself, your attitude towards others or your opinions and how seriously you live your life. Many people tell us that we are rebelling because we are not listening to the world, but I am listening to myself and that is important. In our society, women face numerous constraints. There are numerous dos and don’ts for them. However, if you do not speak out against it, it will be extremely difficult for future generations to obtain that freedom. It takes centuries for things to change. But someone has to start somewhere.
And what are the fears that you want to overcome?
I am afraid of everything, but I get a lot of excitement from learning new things, so I don’t let fear control me. I use my fear to propel myself forward. I’ve never been so terrified of something in my life that it paralysed me.
How was it working with director Meghna Gulzar in Sam Bahadur?
Meghna has a protective attitude towards her actor. When I see her directing actors on my set... I am astounded by how much knowledge she possesses. When you work with Meghna Gulzar, your life becomes much easier. She knows exactly what she wants to do. She conducts extensive research. Unka research itna baareek hai, ki ek bhi cheez ko nazar andaz nahi karti hain (her research is quite accurate. She doesn’t overlook anything). She is quite subtle. She is a fantastic director. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her.
How challenging was it to play the character of Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur?
We’ve always seen every actor playing Indira Gandhi with prosthetics, but we didn’t use any here. Meghna wanted to capture Indira Gandhi’s spirit. She desired a human approach to Indira. That is the beauty of the role: you are playing a character you have never played before. When you see interviews with Indira. She was skinny. She used to be younger. Her voice was thin and delicate. She possessed vulnerability and innocence. Of course, she was a tough and powerful woman.
Tell us about your experience of working with Vicky Kaushal.
He is a nice guy. He is a wonderful co-star. He is extremely talented, skilled, and nuanced in his craft. Previous film se behtar hoti hai unki har aane wali film (His next release is always better than his previous film). He always gives it his all. I’m not sure how he managed to be Sam Manekshaw because of how well he transformed. He is one of our generation’s best actors. This is my strong opinion and I wish him much success because I believe he deserves it.
You began your career at a young age…
I worked as a child artiste because my parents wanted me to. So I had no alternative. But they were incredibly supportive even later. Because you cannot struggle for a profession at home, having parents to accomplish your aspirations is half the battle. The rest of my fight was universal, as it is for everybody in whatever field. The only difference is that you are in the spotlight, therefore your emotions and judgement will be heightened.
Did you have to prove yourself as an actor despite a big debut with a film like Dangal?
That is something I do with every film I make. Khud ko prove karne ka struggle nahi hota. I aim to do well in it, whether it’s Ludo, Raat Rani, or Ajeeb Daastaans. I’ve worked on a few films where people have praised my work. It’s a lot of fun to play various characters. I enjoy characters who aren’t like me.
Do you believe you have received your due as an actor?
I am doing what I am given honestly and I am looking forward to all of the projects that I am doing. You constantly have different expectations from life, but life always leads you somewhere else. But we are so busy running around that we are unable to appreciate the praise we are receiving. But I’ve recently begun to accept the stages as well as the audience’s praise. I just want to live in the moment. These moments will never be repeated.
What have you discovered about yourself during the previous few years?
I want to learn everything, even if it means going through training. After Covid, I realised that life is too short to make decisions and have regrets since all of those things continue to happen, but when will you live your life? Second, perseverance. Work on your acting and skills; this will help you advance. Also, I always saw myself as someone who lacks confidence but over the years I’ve found my confidence and hence been able to face everything chin up. This has been an important improvement.
It is said that if you want to survive in the film industry, you have to be thick skinned…
I am always surprised when someone compliments my work. Because I am such a harsh judge of myself. I can’t see myself on screen because it makes me unhappy. I feel like I could have done better. And I sometimes feel like I shouldn’t be so hard on myself that I can’t enjoy what I’ve done. When we finished the shooting of Dangal, I cried. I thought that I ruined the film. I feel relieved when people come to me and tell me that they liked my film. I need validation from people. I still have to figure out why I am like this.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as an actor?
Hard work is my strength, since you can’t exist here without it. My flaw is that I don’t believe in myself. I began to learn to believe in myself and I was always afraid that if I thought I was good, I would turn into a narcissist. But I couldn’t see the distinction between narcissism and self-sabotage. It’s also not nice to be able to be negative and tear yourself down. Now I understand that making errors is okay because you learn from them and grow as an actor. Right now, I’m attempting to strike that balance.
Finding work of your choice is also a struggle for actors…
There is a lot of work to be had, however it is difficult to achieve your goals. Because your decisions have shaped both you and your career. You are happy or unhappy with your career, depending on your choice. I believe you should continue to make errors because how else will you learn?
Are you a better actor than what you were at the start of your career?
With each film and each character, you learn something new. I make an effort to be faithful to the character. If you want to accomplish better thnigs, you must improve your talents. You must understand dialects and concentrate on your body language for your character. Wrestling was learnt in Dangal, sword fighting in Thugs of Hindostan, and Kashmiri language in Raat Rani. In Ajeeb Daastaans, I played a character to whom I could not relate.
Which are the directors you want to work with?
I want to work with Anurag Basu again. I have a very special relationship with him and my bonding with his wife is also very good. Aisa lagta hai ki vah mera parivar hai (It feels like they’re part of my family). I also want to work with Vishal Bhardwaj, Raju Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Konkona Sensharma.
What’s next on your plate?
I am doing Anurag Basu’s Metro In Dino. I have signed some projects which I am excited about but I will talk about them only when I’ve been given permission to. Wish me luck, all the same! More on: Fatima Sana Shaikh
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