Fatima Sana Shaikh is like a steady flame on the Hindi film screen, carrying the strength of a wrestler and the focus of a performer who knows how to hold attention.
From child roles to demanding lead characters, she has built her career through persistence and varied performances. She was born on January 11, 1992 (34 years old) in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Fatima began acting as a child artist in movies such as Chachi 420 and One 2 Ka 4. Her big breakthrough came with the 2016 sports drama Dangal, in which she played wrestler Geeta Phogat.
Quick Facts of Fatima Sana Shaikh
| Full Name | Fatima Sana Shaikh |
| Profession | Actress |
| Age | 34 years old |
| Date of Birth | January 11, 1992 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Birthplace | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Gender | Female |
Fatima Sana Shaikh Early Life and Education
Fatima Sana Shaikh spent much of her childhood in Mumbai. She entered films at a young age and appeared in Chachi 420. Her childhood was split between school and acting assignments.
Education
Fatima studied at St. Xavier’s High School in Mumbai. Later, she went to Mithibai College, Mumbai, as the institution she attended for further studies.
She had developed an interest in fine arts during Classes 11 and 12 and wanted to study the subject further, but the cost of pursuing art education was difficult for her family at the time.
| School | St. Xavier’s High School |
| Alma Mater | Mithibai College |
| Highest Qualification | Class 12 |
Fatima Sana Shaikh Personal Life
Fatima Sana Shaikh keeps much of her private life away from public attention.
Fatima is currently single, and there are no plans of her getting married or dating someone. But there were some rumors of her being in a relationship with Dangal co-star Aamir Khan.
Rumored Relationship with Aamir Khan
Fatima was repeatedly linked with Aamir Khan after working with him in Dangal in 2016 and Thugs of Hindostan in 2018. The speculation became one of the most discussed parts of her private life in entertainment media.
Fatima directly addressed the reports in a 2019 Filmfare interview. She rejected the dating claims and described Aamir as a mentor and friend.
Family
Fatima comes from a family with roots in Jammu and Kashmir. Her parents originally came from the region and later lived in Mumbai near Filmistan and Kamalistan studios.
Father
Her father is Vipin Sharma, who is from Jammu and follows Hinduism.
Mother
Her mother is Raj Tabassum, who is from Srinagar and follows Islam. She managed her acting work for a period when she was younger.
Siblings
Fatima has an elder brother named Shaanib.
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Rumored Boyfriend | Aamir Khan |
| Parents | Father: Vipin Sharma Mother: Raj Tabassum |
| Siblings | Brother: Shaanib |
Fatima Sana Shaikh Career
Fatima Sana Shaikh has worked in films and television since childhood. Her career includes child roles, supporting parts, lead characters, streaming releases, and historical roles.
1997–2001: Career as a Child Artist
Fatima started acting as a child artist in the 1990s. One of her earliest known roles was Bharti Ratan in Chachi 420 in 1997. The film gave her a chance to work with Kamal Haasan and Tabu at a very young age.
She continued working as a child artist and appeared in films including Bade Dilwala and Khoobsurat in 1999. In 2001, she was also seen in One 2 Ka 4.
2008–2015: Early Adult Roles
Fatima returned to films with Tahaan in 2008. She later appeared in Bittoo Boss in 2012 and played Sumbul in Akaash Vani in 2013. The latter brought her on screen with Kartik Aaryan, who was also part of the film.
In 2015, she worked in the Telugu film Nuvvu Nenu Okkatavudam. These projects kept her connected with acting, but her biggest career break was still ahead.
2016: Breakthrough with Dangal
Fatima received her breakthrough in 2016 with Nitesh Tiwari’s sports drama Dangal.
The film placed her alongside Aamir Khan, Sanya Malhotra, Sakshi Tanwar, Zaira Wasim, Aparshakti Khurana, and Suhani Bhatnagar.
Fatima’s performance as the adult Geeta brought her wide recognition and made Dangal the defining film of her early career.
2018: Thugs of Hindostan
After Dangal, Fatima reunited with Aamir Khan for the 2018 action film Thugs of Hindostan.
She played Zafira Baig and worked with a large cast that included Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.
The film gave Fatima experience in a large-scale action production after the sports-based setting of Dangal.
2020–2022: Films and Streaming Projects
In 2020, Fatima appeared in Anurag Basu’s Ludo. She played Pinky Jain and worked with Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Bachchan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf as part of the ensemble cast.
The same year, she starred in the comedy Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. Her co-stars included Diljit Dosanjh and Manoj Bajpayee.
In 2021, Fatima appeared in Netflix’s anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans. She played Lipakshi in the segment titled Majnu.
Her work continued on streaming platforms in 2022. She played Chetna in Thar and appeared as Lalzari “Lali” in the Raat Rani segment of Modern Love Mumbai.
2023: Dhak Dhak and Sam Bahadur
The year 2023 gave Fatima two very different roles. She played Shashi “Sky” Kumar Yadav in the road drama Dhak Dhak. The film brought her together with Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, and Sanjana Sanghi.
She then portrayed former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur. The film starred Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw and Sanya Malhotra as Silloo Manekshaw.
2025: Metro… In Dino, Aap Jaisa Koi and Gustaakh Ishq
Fatima had several releases in 2025. She joined Anurag Basu’s ensemble drama Metro… In Dino, working with Ali Fazal, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, and Saswata Chatterjee.
She also played Madhu Bose opposite R. Madhavan in Netflix’s romantic drama Aap Jaisa Koi. The film also featured Manish Chaudhari, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Namit Das, and Karan Wahi.
Later in 2025, she appeared in Gustaakh Ishq, directed by Vibhu Puri. Fatima worked with Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sharib Hashmi in the film.
Upcoming Projects
- Teen Kauwe – 2026: Fatima is part of the Prime Video spy thriller series Teen Kauwe. Prime Video released its first look in 2026, confirming Sidhant Gupta, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Bobby Deol among its lead cast. The story follows an ex-secret agent who returns after being considered dead for seven years and tries to identify the person who framed him.
- Nyaya: Fatima has also been reported as part of an upcoming OTT project tentatively titled Nyaya. She will work with Aneet Padda and Arjun Mathur, with Fatima playing a police officer. The project has been linked with directors Karan Kapadia and Nitya Mehra.
Fatima Sana Shaikh Awards and Achievements
Fatima Sana Shaikh has received recognition for her work in films and short-form projects.
Key Wins
- 2017 – News18 REEL Movie Award: Won the Best Debut Actress award for Dangal.
- 2018 – Jackie Chan International Action Film Week Award: Won the Best Action Movie Actress award for Dangal.
- 2025 – Filmfare OTT Award: Won the Best Actor (Female), Short Film award for Ayesha.
Key Nominations
- 2024 – Filmfare Awards: Nomination for Best Actress (Critics’) for her performance in Dhak Dhak.
Fatima Sana Shaikh Controversies
- 2017: Swimsuit Photos During Ramadan: In June 2017, Fatima posted photographs from a GQ photoshoot in which she wore a swimsuit. Some social media users criticised her because the pictures were posted during Ramadan and questioned her religious identity. Other users defended her right to choose her clothing. The incident received wide media coverage at the time. Later that year, Fatima again faced online criticism after posting another photograph that some users considered inappropriate.
Fatima Sana Shaikh Net Worth
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s estimated net worth is around ₹80 crore ($8.4 million).
| Net Worth (Approx.) | ₹80 crore ($8.4 million) |
Fatima Sana Shaikh Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Fatima Sana Shaikh:
| Height | In centimetres: 160 cm In metres: 1.60 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 3 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 51 kg In lbs: 112 lbs |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Fatima Sana Shaikh Instagram
 @fatimasanashaikh |
FAQs
How old is Fatima Sana Shaikh?
Fatima Sana Shaikh is 34 years old. She was born on January 11, 1992, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
What is Fatima Sana Shaikh famous for?
Fatima Sana Shaikh is best known for playing Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat in the 2016 film Dangal.
Did Fatima Sana Shaikh work as a child artist?
Yes, Fatima Sana Shaikh began acting as a child artist and appeared in films such as Chachi 420 in 1997 and One 2 Ka 4 in 2001.
Who are the parents of Fatima Sana Shaikh?
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s father is Vipin Sharma, who is from Jammu, and her mother is Raj Tabassum, who is from Srinagar.
Does Fatima Sana Shaikh have epilepsy?
Yes, Fatima Sana Shaikh was diagnosed around the period when she was working on Dangal.
