Fatima Sana Shaikh is refreshingly honest about her desire for stardom. However, she believes that recognition holds little value without work that truly challenges her. Despite earning acclaim for her performances in films and streaming projects, she admits she is still searching for roles that push her beyond her comfort zone.
The Search for Layered Characters
“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 explains.
Staying Grounded Amidst Validation
In an industry where validation is abundant, Fatima 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.
Desire for Wider Audience Connection
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.”
Transforming Self-Doubt into Growth
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.
