Fatima Sana Shaikh relives Kerala dance school days as a happy backbencher
Synopsis
Between back-to-back Bollywood projects, Fatima Sana Shaikh quietly slipped into a Kerala dance school — and emerged calling herself a proud backbencher. The Dangal actress's offscreen detour signals a craft-first phase, even as she lines up Nyaya with Aneet Padda and an untitled drama with Siddharth Roy Kapur and Kabir Bedi.
Key Takeaways
Fatima Sana Shaikh shared a reel on 3 June from her time at a Kerala dance school, tagged #natankairali .
She described herself as a happy 'backbencher' who learned classical forms, ate well and bonded with fellow students.
In January , she wrapped a yet-to-be-titled film featuring Siddharth Roy Kapur , Pavail Gulatie , Kabir Bedi and Zain Khan Durrani .
Her upcoming ‘Nyaya’ co-stars Aneet Padda , Arjun Mathur , Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub , Raghubir Yadav and Rajesh Sharma .
Fatima played Geeta Phogat in Dangal (2016) and portrayed Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur .
Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about her experience at a traditional dance school in Kerala, fondly recalling her time as a self-confessed backbencher who soaked in every moment of learning, laughter and indulgence. The Dangal star shared the slice-of-life update with her followers on 3 June, capturing a rare offscreen chapter from her schedule.
What Fatima shared
The actress posted a reel that strung together glimpses of her practising classical dance forms, unwinding on the beach, enjoying the rain and bonding with fellow students. The montage offered a candid window into her stint at the institute.
Captioning the post, she wrote, ‘#natankairali in a nutshell. Kaafi kuch seekha, kaafi masti ki, aur kaafi khaaya bhi. Aur bohot cheezein ki, par record nahi kiya,’ which translates to learning a lot, having fun and eating plenty, while leaving most moments unrecorded. She added, ‘Loved being a student.. and a backbencher full dhamaal.’
A packed film slate
The Kerala detour comes between a busy run of projects. Earlier in January, Fatima had wrapped the shoot of a yet-to-be-titled film, sharing pictures from a cake-cutting ceremony with the cast and crew. The ensemble reportedly includes Siddharth Roy Kapur, Pavail Gulatie, Ravi Behl, Sidhant, Kabir Bedi and Zain Khan Durrani.
Her lineup also features ‘Nyaya’, in which she will share screen space with Saiyaara actor Aneet Padda. The project further stars Arjun Mathur, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Raghubir Yadav and Rajesh Sharma.
From child artist to leading lady
Fatima began her career as a child artist in Chachi 420 (1997) and One 2 Ka 4 (2001). Her breakout came in 2016 when she played wrestler Geeta Phogat in Dangal, which went on to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.
She has since built a varied filmography across Ludo, Ajeeb Daastaans and Modern Love Mumbai, and portrayed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the biographical drama Sam Bahadur. Her recent credits include Dhak Dhak, Aap Jaisa Koi and Gustaakh Ishq.
What's next
With the Kerala chapter wrapped and multiple releases lined up, Fatima appears to be balancing craft-building with a steady run of high-profile collaborations heading into the next stretch of her career.
Point of View
She seems to be betting that range, not frequency, will define her next phase.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Fatima Sana Shaikh share about her Kerala dance school experience?
Fatima Sana Shaikh shared a reel on 3 June from her time at a traditional dance school in Kerala, captioned #natankairali. She said she loved being a student and a backbencher, and that she learned a lot, had fun and ate plenty during the stint.
What are Fatima Sana Shaikh's upcoming films?
Her lineup includes a yet-to-be-titled film with Siddharth Roy Kapur, Pavail Gulatie, Ravi Behl, Sidhant, Kabir Bedi and Zain Khan Durrani, as well as ‘Nyaya’ alongside Aneet Padda, Arjun Mathur, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Raghubir Yadav and Rajesh Sharma.
Which film gave Fatima Sana Shaikh her big break?
Fatima rose to prominence in 2016 with Dangal, where she played wrestler Geeta Phogat. The film became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.
Did Fatima Sana Shaikh start out as a child actor?
Yes. She began her career as a child artist with Chachi 420 in 1997 and later appeared in One 2 Ka 4 in 2001 before her adult debut.
Who did Fatima Sana Shaikh portray in Sam Bahadur?
She portrayed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the biographical drama Sam Bahadur, adding a historical-figure role to her growing filmography.
