When Fatima Sana Shaikh revealed she was DROPPED from two movies after Aamir Khan starrer 'Thugs of Hindostan' flopped: 'My confidence was very low...'

Fatima Sana Shaikh started her career as a child actor and has worked with some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, including Shah Rukh Khan, Kamal Haasan, Aamir Khan, Tabu, Juhi Chawla, and Abhishek Bachchan. She played a key role in Dangal (2016), the highest-grossing Indian film, but also appeared in Thugs of Hindostan (2018), one of Bollywood’s biggest disappointments—both alongside Aamir Khan. Recently, Fatima spoke about how the film’s failure affected her, as well as her struggles with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and imposter syndrome after Dangal’s success.
Wanted to Escape to the Mountains
In conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Fatima revealed that there was a phase when she lost interest in working and wanted to escape to Dharamshala, where she had rented a house for a few months. She felt the urge to live alone in the mountains and even considered opening a café while searching for her true self. Although she wanted to grow in her career, she was also struggling to understand her own identity.
Battling Low Self-Confidence
Fatima further admitted that she lacked confidence in both herself and her acting skills. When offered solo lead roles, she feared being exposed as not good enough. However, she shared that therapy and the support of those around her have helped her overcome these insecurities and improve her mental well-being.

The 'Dangal' actress also credited filmmaker Anurag Basu for helping her regain confidence. Having worked with him on Ludo (2020) and the upcoming Metro… In Dino, she recalled struggling with self-doubt after Thugs of Hindostan. During Ludo’s shoot, she constantly sought his approval, unsure of her own performance. Anurag reassured her, encouraging her to trust her instincts. Hearing these words from a director she admired deeply made a significant impact, helping her slowly regain her self-belief.
Losing Projects After Thugs of Hindostan’s Failure
She further opened up about the professional challenges she faced after Thugs of Hindostan failed. She explained that just as a director struggles to make their next film after a flop, actors also face setbacks. She was removed from two films following the movie’s failure. However, she doesn’t take it personally and views it as part of the industry, understanding why producers make such decisions.

Aamir Khan Taking Responsibility Didn’t Change Much
When asked if Aamir Khan taking responsibility for Thugs of Hindostan's failure made a difference, Fatima said it didn’t matter, as the responsibility was shared by everyone. She explained that when a film succeeds, even those with small roles gain recognition, but when it flops, the impact is felt by all. While some actors had other projects lined up, she had nothing except Ludo. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, Thugs of Hindostan also starred Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.