I HAVE NO EGO ABOUT GIVING AUDITIONS, SAYS FATIMA

Fatima Sana Shaikh had it tough before she gained a toehold in Bollywood, but is unfazed about being tested

Fatima Sana Shaikh tasted success right with her first film as an adult, Dangal, in 2016, but the way there was through long audition queues. And she still continues to give auditions for her films as she feels that’s the correct way to go about.

“I’m doing a couple of things for which I’ve auditioned. Anybody who is casting you has the right to audition. I got Dangal through an audition, not because someone wrote the role for me or somebody recommended me. I don’t have an ego. I don’t hesitate about being tested before casting. I have done that my whole life, since my days of struggle,” shares Fatima.

The 28-year-old admits that ever since her debut, people have tried to dissuade her from giving auditions. “They tell me, ‘You should not audition, it does not look right’. And my reply is that if a person has put in their money, they have a right to see who fits the part and who does not, in advance,” she explains.

Fatima started her acting career as a child artiste with Chachi 420 (1997) and before bagging Dangal, she had faced many rejections. On whether her experiences have made her better prepared for the fickle nature of the film industry, she says, “I wasn’t prepared then and I’m still not. I don’t know kal kya hoga. I’m very hopeful and don’t think about the worst. I feel whatever happens, happens for good. If I go in only with fear, then subconsciously I’ve already thought of it as a failure. I want to give my 100% as far as possible physically and emotionally.”

Fatima has worked with senior actors and stars such as Aamir Khan (Dangal and Thugs of Hindostan, 2018), Amitabh Bachchan (Thugs of Hindostan) and Manoj Bajpayee (in her upcoming Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari) as well as younger actors including Rajkummar Rao in Ludo and Diljit Dosanjh.

So does her behaviour on the set change while with them? “Meri problem hai that if I pretend to be someone else, it can only go on for two-three days. After that, I’ll show my fitrat,” she laughs, adding she can’t hide her personality. “I feel if you try to fake it, others can see through that. I don’t change to please others, but, I’m very mindful about who I’m with.”

People tell me, ‘You should not audition’. And my reply is that if a person has put in their money, they have a right to see who fits the part and who does not, in advance.

FATIMA SANA SHAIKH

ACTOR