Fatima Sana Shaikh on Bollywood, “The superstar era ended way back. After the ‘Khans’, I don’t think we will ever have superstars’’

Fatima Sana Shaikh, who first made her big Bollywood break in Dangal starring alongside Aamir Khan is all in praise for the Khans with whom she shared the silver screen with. Comparing her current stance of digital casting to the times when making it big to Bollywood are a lot more challenging, the 27-year-old actors weigh the time of her former Khans heavier to her current times. Speaking in an interview, Fatima told DNA, “The superstar era ended way back. After the ‘Khans’, I don’t think we will ever have superstars. Now we all are accessible but earlier the stars were not. We could not search them on social media or follow their lives. We were able to connect with them through their films and interviews.”

"I have been a child actor. I quit but making a comeback after that was difficult. I was not getting any work. People used to tell me I don't look like Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif. They said, since I didn't have the looks of a heroine, I should do whatever I'm offered. There have been many incidents where I was told that I was not good enough," she added.

“Before Dangal, I never had the chance to choose my projects. I even did ‘Dangal’ because that was my only option at that time. Every actor goes through this. That’s how things function. But I am happy that post the film and especially after Thugs of Hindostan, I have the space to choose,” she says.

Fatima adds the only way the actors of her generation could survive is by doing good work. “The moment we do good work, we get appreciation and when we don’t things go the other way. Actors like Deepika have been in the industry for so long, but it is now that people have realised she is a very good actor because of her choices.” Fatima adds.