She enjoyed overnight popularity after her portrayal of wrestler Geeta Phogat in Dangal, but actress Fatima Sana Shaikh says she had to start from scratch when it came to landing a role in Thugs of Hindostan, a Yash Raj Films (YRF) production starring Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.
“It feels unreal,” said Shaikh. “It is a huge project and with one of the best production houses. And plus there’s Amitabh sir and AK [Khan]. I feel very fortunate.”
She admits nothing came without her share of struggle — even though she has been working with the best of talent since childhood. She played the Bharti in Chachi 420 with Kamal Haasan playing her father, and then in Dangal, she had Khanplay her on-screen father.
“Chachi 420 happened when I was a child, and then I had to struggle again, I gave so many auditions. All this has come to me, but it came to me with a lot of effort... The struggle never ends.
“After Dangal, I was back to square one. For Thugs... also, I had to go through multiple rounds of auditions till I got the film. So, we can do several films, but every film will be like a first — at least it is so for me because you start from scratch,” added the 25-yar-old.
That’s why, she says, the effort is always to give one’s 100 per cent.
“For me, this life... Acting and films... is very sacred. I have struggled for long and so, I value things. Even if I have to give multiple auditions, it is okay,” said Shaikh.
Shaikh will be seen playing a warrior in the movie.
Naturally then, action hasn’t left her after Dangal.
“Oh yes! I am ready for it. My body says work harder. I am doing a lot of training because Thugs... demands a different kind of action from wrestling. I will need to look tall, be light on my feet, jump and be agile.
“I have to learn sword fighting and archery because she is a warrior,” Fatima said.
Does the dream of being a typical YRF heroine then remain? “I am thrilled to be a YRF heroine. But I also want to do the typical YRF heroine... where the sari flies, and there’s running around the trees,” she said.
