EXCLUSIVE: Fatima Sana Shaikh on NOT getting respect in supporting roles; says, “Hurtful to be treated as a second-class human being”

Fatima Sana Shaikh, the nation’s favourite well-known actress for her acting in Dangal, Ludo and many others recently sat down with Bollywood Bubble for an exclusive chat. The actress shared her personal and professional life at length. Fatima opened up on working in Television and also as a child artist in movies like Chachi 420, Ishq and One 2 Ka 4. Shaikh shared about her struggles as a side actress in films and daily soaps and being treated badly by the production team.

Fatima Sana Shaikh on working as a side actress

When questioned about working as a television actress, Fatima shared, “When you are not the lead, the side characters, juniors, or smaller roles don’t receive the same respect or treatment. They are often treated poorly on set, almost like they’re just there to sign in, like a daily attendance routine. The actress also shared that in the television industry, actors often face delays in receiving their first payment, which can take three to four months. She explained that they are required to report to the set daily and mark their attendance by signing. However, if an actor forgets to sign, even if the production team is aware of their presence, they do not provide reminders, and that day is not counted in their attendance.

Disappointed by this, Fatima Sana Shaikh further expressed, “You might earn ₹1500 per day, which at the age of 14 or 15 seemed like a lot to me. But even then, the treatment wasn’t good. It’s hurtful to be treated as a second-class human being. Regardless of how small your role is, if you’re on set, you deserve respect. It’s not about getting a bigger vanity van or other luxuries; it’s about being treated with basic dignity. For people who don’t have much money and are doing smaller roles, the value of that money is far greater than for someone in a higher position. The daily wagers, like the lightmen and crew members, work hard, and if even one day’s pay is taken from them, it hurts them deeply. Unfortunately, this realisation doesn’t occur in production teams. It’s heartbreaking.”

More about the actress

Fatima Sana Shaikh will be next seen in Metro In Dino alongside Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ali Fazal and many others. Helmed by Anurag Basu, the film is likely to be released in 2025. Fatima is also known for her roles in Thugs Of Hindostan and Sam Bahadur.

Watch full interview here

Exclusive written and transcribed by Sarni Rathod.

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