Fatima Sana Shaikh would “genuinely love” to work in the South film industry: I really admire how rooted the storytelling feels

Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has never been the performer to take the predictable route of acting. Challenging and reinventing herself is what drives her towards self-evolution. Recently, she swapped acting duties for acting studies by attending an acting workshop at Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts in Puducherry. Describing it as a way of rediscovering her craft, Shaikh shares that it helps in breaking comfort zones and keeping herself away from getting mechanical.

Talking about why she got back to the coastal city to attend a workshop, she shares, “The first time, I connected with the way they look at acting. A lot of what they taught stayed with me. But I honestly felt I didn’t fully understand or embody all of it. So, when I had a break, I felt like going back.”

Further, she also expressed genuine curiosity to work across the South film industry as it always carries a strong sense of identity, she believes. “There’s so much exciting work happening across the South. As an actor, that’s incredibly inspiring. I really admire how rooted the storytelling feels. Whether it’s an intimate film or on a much larger scale, there’s always a strong sense of identity. The stories never seem disconnected from the culture, the people or the place they’re coming from, and I find that beautiful. I’d love to be a part of that kind of storytelling.”

Fatima believes that acting is a creative space that requires constant practice. “The work you put in when you’re not on set is what eventually shows up on screen.”

Getting back to speaking about workshops, she continues, “The days were packed. We’d start with an hour of Kalari, followed by eye exercises and a long session exploring emotions. After that, there was breathwork, music, voice and rhythm. It was almost nine hours of training every day for about ten days. There were moments when I felt out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed that. That’s usually where I learn the most.”

The workshop kept her “pretty busy” she mentions. While doing that, she also explored cafes and restaurants in Puducherry and also managed to watch a film in the theatre.

Describing the process of being a student again as humbling, she adds, “You realise you don’t know all the answers. You’re constantly stepping out of your comfort zone, and there’s no hierarchy. Everyone is there to learn, make mistakes and start again. It really humbles you. When you let go of the idea that you already know a lot about something, you’re open to learning so much more.”

For someone who believes that acting is a skill that needs practice, she continued, “Acting can become mechanical without you even realising. You finish one film and jump into another, repeating little things that worked before. Then your performances become stale. Workshops break that pattern, and I never want to get too comfortable. If something sparks my curiosity, I explore it. That’s the way to keep growing as an actor.”

Earlier this year, Shaikh attended a training programme at Natana Kairali in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, and revealed that she returned with different experiences from both workshops. “The workshop in Kerala gave me a deeper appreciation of our traditional performance practices. But the approach at Adishakti really resonates with me. The tools they give you stay with you and become something you can keep practising as an actor every day. Both experiences were valuable, but Adishakti is a place I know I’ll keep going back to.”