Fatima Sana Shaikh recently disclosed that her first on-screen appearance with Aamir Khan wasn’t the 2016 blockbuster Dangal but the 1997 romantic comedy Ishq.
The actress made this unexpected disclosure during a conversation on Bharti Singh and Harssh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, leaving many Bollywood enthusiasts astounded.
The Forgotten Cameo in Ishq
During the podcast, Fatima described a particular scene from Ishq where she appeared as a child artist. “Bohot pehle wo Ishq film thi. Usme ek scene hai jahan pe Aamir jaata hai aise ‘mara, mara, mara’ karta hai aur saamne Kajol uske haath mein ek bacchi hoti hai toh voh bacchi main hun. Haan voh main hoon,” she revealed.
This translates to: “Long back, there was a film called Ishq. There is this scene where Aamir goes like this and says ‘mara, mara, mara’ and in front of him is Kajol who had a little girl in her arms, so that child is me. Yes, that’s me.“
In this iconic scene, Fatima wears a pink frock while being held in Kajol’s arms. This revelation left Bharti Singh visibly surprised. She admitted she had no idea about Fatima’s cameo in the film and promised to rewatch it to catch this moment.
From Child Artist to Leading Lady
While most fans recognize Fatima from her breakthrough role as wrestler Geeta Phogat in Dangal, her Bollywood journey began much earlier.
The now 33-year-old actress started her career as a child artist, appearing in several notable films of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Her filmography as a child artist includes:
- Chachi 420 (1997)
- Bade Dilwala (1999)
- Khoobsurat (1999)
- One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
Fatima shot to fame in 2016 with Dangal. The film became a blockbuster hit in India but also garnered universal critical acclaim.
The film broke several records upon its release and launched Fatima as one of the sought-after actresses in the industry.
What’s Next for Fatima?
Currently, Fatima has an impressive lineup of projects in her pipeline. She will be seen in:
- Anurag Basu’s Metro…In Dino
- Ul Jalool Ishq alongside Vijay Varma and Naseeruddin Shah
- Aap Jaisa Koi with R Madhavan
With her versatility and talent, Fatima continues to be one of Bollywood’s most promising actresses.
Will her upcoming projects help her recreate Dangal’s magic, or will they establish her in an entirely new light in the industry?