‘I’m very hard on myself, I feel I’m not good enough’

Juhi Chakraborty

She packed a punch, made heads turn and enjoyed a successful debut with sports drama Dangal in 2016, where she played Aamir Khan’s onscreen daughter. And with it, Fatima Sana Shaikh set the benchmark quite high for herself.

But the actor, who earned a lot of plaudits for her nearperfection portrayal of a wrestler in the film, says, “I expect a lot from myself more than anyone else. That’s why, I am very hard on myself. I feel I am not good enough and that I don’t work hard enough.”

Fatima’s second film, the magnum opus, Thugs of Hindostan (2018) failed to create the same magic as her debut. Talking about how she deals with success and failure, she says, “Every individual sets a benchmark for themselves. Mine is more internal than external. You can’t always make everyone happy. At the end of the day, you've to keep yourself happy.”

However, the 28-year-old is quick to admit that she does seek approvals. “I want people to love my acting and my films... that’s why I act,” she says. Having said that, Fatima doesn’t dwell too much on it and believes in letting things happen on their own.

Moreover, she also takes her own time between projects. Since 2018, she hasn’t had any release, but has Ludo and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari lined up this year. Is the gap a conscious effort or mere coincidence? “Honestly, if I had more films, I’d have done all of them. But I can only do what I’ve got in hand. I always wanted to work and be busy and I know that the more I act, the better I become. I want to enjoy the process. Har cheez mein ek mazaa hai. I don’t want to treat it like a job,” she says.

So does she not worry about being out of sight and out of mind? “When Dangal released, I used to think about all of it. But after TOH, I realised it’s okay if there is a gap. I can use that time to improve myself more, travel more and add experiences that go beyond my work,” she says.

Every individual sets a benchmark for themselves. Mine is more internal than external. You can’t always make everyone happy.

FATIMA SANA SHAIKH ACTOR

PHOTO: FOTOCORP Fatima Sana Shaikh