FATIMA SANA SHAIKH FROM AAMIR’S DAUGHTER TO HIS HEROINE
The young actor, who played athlete daughter Geeta to Aamir’s Mahavir Phogat in Dangal, says that she can ‘talk about anything’ with him
She stepped into wrestler Geeta Phogat’s skin effortlessly in Dangal. Since then, Fatima Sana Shaikh (above) hadn’t signed any new film. Now she is set to return in Thugs of Hindostan, co-starring Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. Goes without saying, Fatima is “extremely excited and happy”.
“After Dangal, I had thought that I’d like to do a big and a good film. So, I was just waiting for something to really excite me, something that makes me say ‘yes’ with my eyes closed. Then came this film, for which I auditioned so much that it was like Dangal Part 2 for me,” she says, laughing.
The young actor admits that she had the “same intensity and a strong desire” to get this film. She adds, “Any actor would love to be [in] a film being backed by Adi sir (Aditya Chopra), directed by Victor sir (Vijay Krishna Acharya). Plus, it has Amitabh Bachchan sir. It’s a dream cast. Even if I had got an opportunity to stand in a corner and just experience [the film], I’d have done that.”
She’ll be doing a lot more than standing in a corner. The buzz is that she is playing Aamir Khan’s heroine in the film. After having played his daughter in Dangal? “I knew that people are going to think like this,” says Fatima. “Suppose I hadn’t acted in Dangal, and had got an offer to act opposite Aamir, wouldn’t I have said yes? Of course, I would. There have been so many instances of [female] actors playing mothers, daughters and lovers [with the same male actors]. That’s our job. And you play characters from different age groups.”
Rumour has it that Aamir helped with her casting in Thugs. She replies, “Victor sir has chosen me. I have given so many auditions, and after all the hard work, I’ve got selected.”
And is Aamir a guru, godfather or a friend? “He’s everything rolled into one,” says Fatima. “He is a friend as well as guru and a guide. I can talk to him about anything. I can discuss with him things like, ‘I have had crush on someone and now, please tell me what to do.’”