Fatima Sana Shaikh is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films and television. She began her career as a child artist in the late 1990s and later established herself as a leading actress in Indian cinema. She gained widespread recognition for portraying wrestler Geeta Phogat in the sports biographical film Dangal (2016), directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The film became a major commercial success and brought her national and international attention.

Following the success of Dangal, Shaikh appeared in several films and streaming productions, including Thugs of Hindostan (2018), Ludo (2020), Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), Thar (2022), Dhak Dhak (2023), Sam Bahadur (2023), Metro… In Dino (2025), Aap Jaisa Koi (2025) and Gustaakh Ishq (2025). She has also appeared in television and digital projects, including Modern Love Mumbai and Hunkkaar: The Roar.

Known for taking on a variety of roles, Shaikh has worked in sports dramas, action films, romantic dramas, thrillers and anthology productions.

Early Life and Family Background

Fatima Sana Shaikh was born on 11 January 1992 in Hyderabad, India. She grew up in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where she spent much of her childhood and began developing an interest in acting and performing.

Her father, Vipin Sharma, is reported to be from Jammu, while her mother, Raj Tabassum, is from Srinagar. Her family background reflects different cultural and religious traditions. Shaikh has spoken publicly about her personal beliefs and has described herself as an atheist.

She also has an older brother named Shaanib Sharma. Although she became a familiar face in the Indian entertainment industry at a relatively young age, she has generally kept much of her family life away from public attention.

Education

Fatima Sana Shaikh completed her schooling in Mumbai. She is reported to have attended Mithibai College in Mumbai for higher education.

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Alongside her academic life, she developed an interest in photography and creative work. Before becoming widely recognised as an actress, she explored photography and other artistic interests. Her early exposure to the film industry also helped her become familiar with film sets, acting and performance at a young age.

Fatima Sana Shaikh Biography Height Weight Age Boyfriend & More

Bio/Wiki
Nickname	Fatty Fatima Sana Shaikh – Twitter
Profession	Actress
Famous Role	Geeta Phogat in the Bollywood film Dangal (2016)
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters– 160 cm in meters– 1.60 m in feet & inches– 5’ 3”
Eye Colour	Dark Brown
Hair Colour	Brown
Career
Debut	Film (As a Child Artist; Hindi): Chachi 420 (1997) as Bharti Ratan Film (As an Actress; Hindi): Tahaan (2008) as Zoya Film (As an Actress; Telugu): Nuvvu Nenu Okatavudaam (2015) as Sruti TV (As an Actress; Hindi): Ladies Special Season 1 (2009) as Geeti aired on Sony Entertainment Television Web Series (As an Actress; Hindi): Modern Love Mumbai (2022) as Lalzari
Personal Life
Date of Birth	11 January 1992 (Saturday)
Age (as of 2026)	34 Years
Birthplace	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Hyderabad, Telangana)
Zodiac sign	Capricorn
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Mumbai, Maharashtra
School	St. Xavier’s High School, Mumbai
College/University	Mithibai College of Arts, Chauhan Institutes of Science & Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai Fatima Sana Shaikh – Facebook
Religion/Religious Views	Despite being born to a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, Fatima identifies herself as an atheist. JK Newsline Talking about it in an interview, she said, “My mom is a Muslim, my dad is a Hindu, and my brother and I are agnostic. I believe in karma.” She added, “In my school, there were kids from all kinds of backgrounds. I have never learnt whether you should give someone their name first or religion first. When I was growing up no one asked each others’ religion, caste, class, etc. I didn’t know it was important until now when we see these getting in the way all the time. I feel people have a lot of free time to talk about all this.”
Food Habit	Vegetarian The Times of India
Controversies	• Instagram Black DP Controversy: In 2019, it was rumoured that Fatima changed her Instagram display picture to black on the Indian Independence Day to sympathise with Pakistan. As soon as the rumours spread, netizens started trolling her for being anti-national. However, Sana soon took to Twitter to clarify that she did not change her Instagram DP to black, but it was someone who spread the fake news. ABP Live Replying to her trollers, Sana tweeted, So, someone on Twitter has posted a fake post about me uploading a black image as my DP today. For God knows what reason. Because of this I have been receiving a lot of hate since morning. Please don’t fall prey to fake posts and get swayed by it. Thanks.” • Homewrecker: Fatima is often tagged as a hoomewrecker in media for being the reason behind Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s divorce. Apparently, Fatima was rumoured to be in a relationship with Aamir Khan post the release of their film Dangal. When Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announced their divorce, people started blaming Fatima for it. Scoop Whoop • Accused of Hurting Muslim Sentiments: Fatima once shared a picture of herself wearing a monokini on Instagram during the holy month of Ramadan. She was badly trolled by netizens for her act. Deccan Chronicle Later, she also posted a picture herself sipping a cup of coffee during a month of Ramadan. She was severely criticised by the muslims, who believed that she should have observed a fast during the holy month. YouTube – ETimes
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Unmarried
Affairs/Boyfriends	• Aamir Khan (rumoured; actor) Daily Hunt • Aparshakti Khurana (rumoured; actor) India TV
Family
Husband/Spouse	N/A
Parents	Father– Vipin Sharma Mother– Raj Tabassum
Siblings	Brother– Shaanib (elder) Sister– None
Favourites
Actor	Shah Rukh Khan
Actress(es)	Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone
Film	American Psycho (2000)
Film Director(s)	Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sriram Raghavan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Zoya Akhtar
Book(s)	Only Love Is Real by Brian Weiss, Many Lives by Brian Weiss, Many Masters by Brian Weiss
Author	Brian Weiss

Career

Early Career as a Child Artist (1997–2001)

Fatima Sana Shaikh began her acting career as a child artist in the late 1990s. One of her earliest film appearances was in the Hindi film Ishq (1997). In the same year, she appeared in the comedy film Chachi 420, directed by Kamal Haasan, in which she played Bharti Ratan, the daughter of the central characters.

She subsequently appeared in films such as Bade Dilwala (1999), Khoobsurat (1999) and One 2 Ka 4 (2001). These early roles gave her experience in front of the camera and introduced her to the professional film industry.

Although she appeared in several productions as a child, she did not immediately transition into adult lead roles. Her career included a period away from prominent film appearances before she returned to acting in the following decade.

Return to Films and Early Adult Roles (2008–2015)

Shaikh returned to the screen with the drama film Tahaan (2008), in which she played Zoya. The film received attention at international film festivals and marked an important step in her development as an actress.

She later appeared in Bittoo Boss (2012), a romantic comedy directed by Supavitra Babul. In 2013, she played Sumbul in Akaash Vani, a romantic drama directed by Luv Ranjan.

During this period, she also worked in television productions and continued exploring opportunities in the entertainment industry. These projects helped her gain experience in different formats and prepare for more substantial roles.

Breakthrough with Dangal (2016)

The turning point in Fatima Sana Shaikh’s career came with the 2016 sports biographical drama Dangal. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Aamir Khan Productions, the film was based on the life of Indian amateur wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari.

Shaikh portrayed Geeta Phogat, the wrestler who went on to become India’s first female wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Aamir Khan played Mahavir Singh Phogat, while Sanya Malhotra portrayed Babita Phogat.

To prepare for the role, Shaikh underwent extensive physical training and wrestling practice. She worked with professional trainers to understand wrestling techniques, body movements and the physical demands of the sport. The preparation was an important part of her transformation into the character.

Dangal received positive reviews from critics and audiences and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. Its success brought Shaikh widespread recognition and established her as a prominent actress in Hindi cinema.

Her performance as Geeta Phogat remains one of the most significant roles of her career.

Thugs of Hindostan (2018)

After Dangal, Shaikh appeared in the period action-adventure film Thugs of Hindostan (2018), directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya. The film featured an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Shaikh portrayed Zafira Baig, a skilled fighter who becomes involved in a rebellion against British colonial rule. The role required her to perform action sequences and undertake preparation involving sword fighting and physical training.

Although the film attracted considerable attention before its release, its critical and commercial performance was below expectations. Nevertheless, it gave Shaikh the opportunity to take on a large-scale action role.

Exploring Different Genres (2020–2022)

In 2020, Shaikh appeared in two films that showcased different aspects of her acting ability.

She played Pinky Jain in Anurag Basu’s anthology film Ludo. The film featured several interconnected stories and an ensemble cast that included Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanya Malhotra.

She also appeared in Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (2020), a comedy film directed by Abhishek Sharma. In the film, she played Tulshi Rane, also known as Tina.

In 2021, Shaikh appeared in the Netflix anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans. She played Lipakshi in the segment titled “Majnu”, directed by Shashank Khaitan. The story explored relationships, social expectations and emotional conflict.

In 2022, she appeared in the Netflix film Thar, a neo-Western thriller directed by Raj Singh Chaudhary. She portrayed Chetna, a character connected to the film’s central mystery.

The same year, she appeared in the anthology series Modern Love Mumbai, playing Lalzari, also known as Lali, in the segment “Raat Rani”. The episode explored love, independence and personal transformation in the context of Mumbai.

Dhak Dhak and Sam Bahadur (2023)

In 2023, Shaikh appeared in Dhak Dhak, an adventure drama directed by Tarun Dudeja. The film follows four women from different backgrounds who embark on a motorcycle journey to Khardung La.

Shaikh portrayed Shashi, also known as Sky, a young woman who dreams of travelling and discovering her independence. The film also starred Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi.

Her performance received attention for its portrayal of a woman challenging personal and social limitations. She received a nomination for the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for her work in the film.

Later in 2023, she portrayed Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur, a biographical war drama directed by Meghna Gulzar. The film was based on the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, played by Vicky Kaushal.

Shaikh’s portrayal of the former Prime Minister of India required her to represent a prominent historical figure. The film also starred Sanya Malhotra as Silloo Manekshaw.

Film Projects in 2025

In 2025, Fatima Sana Shaikh appeared in several projects across different genres.

She played Shruti Shukla Arya in Metro… In Dino, directed by Anurag Basu. The film is a spiritual successor to Life in a… Metro (2007) and presents interconnected stories about relationships and urban life. It was released in July 2025.

She also starred opposite R. Madhavan in Aap Jaisa Koi, a romantic drama released on Netflix in July 2025. Shaikh portrayed Madhu Bose, a French instructor whose relationship with a Sanskrit teacher forms the centre of the story.

Another 2025 release was Gustaakh Ishq, in which she played Minni. The romantic drama, directed by Vibhu Puri, also featured Vijay Varma and Naseeruddin Shah.

These projects further expanded her filmography and demonstrated her interest in working across different genres and storytelling formats.

Television and Digital Career (2026)

Shaikh continued her work in digital entertainment in 2026 with Hunkkaar: The Roar, a web series in which she portrayed ACP Jasleen Singh Soin. The series brought her into the crime and investigative drama genre.

She has also been associated with Teen Kauwe, a Prime Video project reported as an upcoming release in 2026. Further release and distribution details should be confirmed through official announcements.

Filmography

The following table lists selected film appearances by Fatima Sana Shaikh.

Year	Film	Role
1997	Ishq	Child artist appearance
1997	Chachi 420	Bharti Ratan
1999	Bade Dilwala	Baby Sana
1999	Khoobsurat	Gudiya
2001	One 2 Ka 4	Inspector Abbas’s youngest daughter
2008	Tahaan	Zoya
2012	Bittoo Boss	Priya
2013	Akaash Vani	Sumbul
2015	Nuvvu Nenu Okkatavudam	Sruti
2016	Dangal	Geeta Phogat
2018	Thugs of Hindostan	Zafira Baig
2020	Ludo	Pinky Jain
2020	Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari	Tulshi “Tina” Rane
2021	Ajeeb Daastaans	Lipakshi
2022	Thar	Chetna
2023	Dhak Dhak	Shashi “Sky” Kumar Yadav
2023	Sam Bahadur	Indira Gandhi
2025	Metro… In Dino	Shruti Shukla Arya
2025	Aap Jaisa Koi	Madhu Bose
2025	Gustaakh Ishq	Minni

Television and Web Series

Year	Title	Role / Character
2002–2004	Kitty Party	Television appearance
2009	Ladies Special	Geeti Shinde
2009	Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo	Suman
2011	Best of Luck Nikki	Richa Shenoy
2022	Modern Love Mumbai	Lalzari “Lali”
2026	Hunkkaar: The Roar	ACP Jasleen Singh Soin
2026	Teen Kauwe	Reported upcoming project

Music Videos

Apart from films and television, Shaikh has also appeared in music videos.

Year	Title	Details
2015	Tujhse Meri	Music video appearance
2020	Palkein Kholo	Music video directed by Vishal Bhardwaj

Awards and Recognition

Fatima Sana Shaikh has received recognition for her performances, particularly for her work in Dangal and Dhak Dhak.

Some of her notable award-related achievements include:

• Jackie Chan Action Movie Awards (2017): Won Best Action Actress for Dangal.
• Screen Awards (2017): Received a nomination in the Best Actress – Popular Choice category for Dangal.
• Filmfare OTT Awards (2022): Received a nomination in the Best Actor in a Web Original Film – Female category for Thar.
• Filmfare Awards (2024): Received a nomination for Best Actress – Critics for Dhak Dhak.

Her performances in films with different themes and genres have contributed to her recognition as a versatile performer.

Personal Life

Fatima Sana Shaikh generally maintains a private personal life and does not frequently discuss her relationships in public. She has spoken about her family background, personal beliefs and experiences in interviews.

She has also discussed living with epilepsy and has helped raise awareness about the condition by speaking about her experience. Her comments have contributed to public conversations about health awareness and the challenges associated with neurological conditions.

Shaikh has expressed an interest in photography and other creative activities. Her interviews also indicate that she values character-driven projects and prefers roles that allow her to explore different aspects of acting.

Acting Style and Public Image

Shaikh’s career includes a wide range of characters, from a young wrestler in Dangal to an action-oriented character in Thugs of Hindostan, a complex character in Ajeeb Daastaans and a motorcycle traveller in Dhak Dhak.

Her role as Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur also demonstrated her willingness to portray historical personalities.

In interviews, she has discussed the pressure of following the success of Dangal and the importance of accepting professional setbacks. She has also spoken about choosing roles that offer new experiences rather than repeating the same type of character.

Upcoming Projects

Fatima Sana Shaikh has been associated with several projects reported to be in development or production.

• Police Company: A crime-action film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, with Shaikh reported to have filmed a special appearance. The film has been listed for a 2027 release.
• Teen Kauwe: A Prime Video series reported as a forthcoming project in 2026.

Project schedules and release plans can change. The status of upcoming productions should therefore be checked against official announcements before publication updates.