Fatima Sana Shaikh Opens Up About Harsh Realities Of Being A Child Artist, Says, “Overhead Inappropriate Adult Conversations”

Best known for her powerful portrayal of wrestler Geeta Phogat in the 2016 blockbuster Dangal alongside Aamir Khan, Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh actually began her acting career long before that breakout role. She entered the industry as a child artist, appearing in popular films like Chachi 420, Ishq, One 2 Ka 4, Khoobsurat, and Bade Dilwala. While her early exposure to cinema gave her a head start, the journey was far from easy.

Fatima Shaikh On Problems Of Being A Child Artist

In a candid interview with Filmfare, Fatima opened up about the darker realities of being a child actor. She revealed that she faced situations no child should have to experience, including long work hours and inappropriate adult behavior. “I definitely faced situations a child shouldn’t be exposed to. Today, there are regulations like limited working hours and guardian supervision. When I was a child artiste, I worked 15-hour days and overheard inappropriate adult conversations,” she said. Though her parents were present on set, they largely left her to her own devices after setting initial expectations.

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Fatima also highlighted how early criticism of appearance can have a lasting impact on young minds. “As an adult, you understand how insensitive these comments are, but when you hear them as a five- or ten-year-old, your perception of the ideal image gets warped,” she explained, referring to comments made about her weight or looks during her childhood years in the industry.

Talking about how she got her start, Fatima shared that her family, originally from Jammu and Kashmir, lived near Mumbai’s Kamalistan and Filmistan studios. “My parents were just trying to survive. They would watch shoots with fascination and eventually found a way to get us into films,” she said. Coming from a lower-middle-class background with no connections in the industry, it was a leap of faith that led her into cinema — one that would shape her life and career for years to come.

On The Work Front

On the work front, Fatima Sana Shaikh has a busy slate of projects lined up. She will be seen in Metro… In Dino, Anurag Basu’s upcoming romantic anthology, alongside stars like Aditya Roy Kapur and Sara Ali Khan, releasing in July 2025. She also stars opposite R. Madhavan in Aap Jaisa Koi, a romantic drama exploring an age-defying love story. Another notable project is Ul Jalool Ishq, where she shares screen space with Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Varma. Additionally, Fatima is part of the upcoming biopic on C. Shankaran Nair, featuring Akshay Kumar. These projects continue to showcase her range across genres and formats.

Also Read: Not Dangal, Fatima Sana Shaikh Reveals THIS ’90s Film Was Her First As Aamir Khan’s Co-Star And It’s One You Would Never Imagine!