Fatima Sana Shaikh's first brush with cinema came as a child actor in Chachi 420 (1997) and One 2 Ka 4 (2001), followed by years of modelling and small roles. Everything changed when Aamir Khan's team picked her from hundreds of hopefuls to play wrestler Geeta Phogat in Dangal (2016). Her fierce, physically committed performance anchored what became the highest-grossing Indian film of its time.

Rather than coast on that breakthrough, Shaikh has chosen eclectic work across films and streaming: the dark comic anthology Ludo, Ajeeb Daastaans, and Modern Love Mumbai, plus a striking turn as Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur (2023). Her road-trip drama Dhak Dhak (2023) brought a Filmfare Critics Best Actress nomination. In 2025 she featured in Anurag Basu's musical ensemble Metro... In Dino and the Netflix romance Aap Jaisa Koi.

Filmography Highlights

• Chachi 420 (1997) — Screen debut as a child actor in Kamal Haasan's comedy.
• Dangal (2016) — Breakout as wrestler Geeta Phogat in the record-shattering biopic.
• Thugs of Hindostan (2018) — Warrior Zafira in the big-budget adventure epic.
• Ludo (2020) — Part of Anurag Basu's acclaimed dark-comedy ensemble.
• Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) — Praised for the segment 'Khilauna' in the Netflix anthology.
• Sam Bahadur (2023) — Played Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the Manekshaw biopic.
• Dhak Dhak (2023) — Biker road-trip drama; Filmfare Critics nomination.
• Metro... In Dino (2025) — Anurag Basu's musical ensemble on urban relationships.

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.