Fatima Sana Shaikh on feeling pressure of not living up to image and benchmark after Dangal; ‘It created self-doubt…’

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Fatima Sana Shaikh, known for playing Geeta Phogat in the hit movie Dangal directed by Aamir Khan, has become a well-recognized actress in Indian cinema. The movie’s success was not only due to her commitment but also to the entire cast’s effort. However, her career path following Dangal wasn’t without obstacles. Lately, she openly discussed the pressure she experienced after the film’s triumph, confessing that she wrestled with self-doubt and the fear of failing to meet the high standards set by her performance in Dangal.

Fatima Sana Shaikh shared with Hindustan Times her experiences following Dangal, mentioning the pressures she felt about meeting expectations and doubts about her true acting abilities. Essentially, she questioned whether people saw her as a good actress or if she was genuinely one.

The weighty apprehension about singlehandedly producing a movie kept her hesitant, for she fretted over potential negative reactions from the audience if things turned out poorly.

Eventually, Ludo influenced a change in Fatima’s perspective. Looking back on that phase, Fatima revealed that following the release of Thugs of Hindostan in 2018, she experienced a dip in self-assurance. However, as time passed, she learned to accept setbacks and blunders, understanding that what really mattered was standing up for herself and executing her tasks with conviction.

Fatima Sana Shaikh, having built self-assurance throughout her career, is now taking on a variety of roles. Following her success in Dhak Dhak and Sam Bahadur, she will appear in Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino, Ul Jalool Ishq together with Vijay Varma and Naseeruddin Shah, as well as Aap Jaisa Koi alongside R. Madhavan.

In another rendition, Dangal is an engaging sports film that showcases the remarkable story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a retired wrestler who strives to win a gold medal for India by coaching his daughters to compete in the Commonwealth Games. Fatima portrays Geeta Phogat with great intensity, while Aamir Khan convincingly embodies the resolute and unyielding Mahavir.

Under the direction of Nitesh Tiwari, this film features an outstanding ensemble, including Sanya Malhotra, Aparshakti Khurana, Suhani Bhatnagar, and Zaira Wasim. Going beyond the sport of wrestling, Dangal is a moving story about determination, dreams, and defying societal expectations, earning it a place among the most powerful sports dramas in Indian cinema.

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2025-03-05 17:19