Fatima Sana Shaikh opens up about sisterhood in cinema; reveals bond with Ira Khan and calls Shonali Bose an 'inspiration'

Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh recently opened up about the powerful role of sisterhood in her personal and professional life, sharing heartfelt insights into her close bond with Aamir Khan's daughter, Ira Khan and the women who’ve inspired her journey in cinema.Speaking to News18 Showsha, Fatima revealed that she shares a strong connection with Aamir Khan’s daughter, Ira Khan — a bond that was evident in the candid moments they shared at Ira’s wedding, which went viral on social media earlier this year. Fatima also credited Ira for supporting her during a deeply personal phase.“I did ask Ira for recommendations when I wanted to seek therapy,” Fatima said. “I reached out to others too, because I have a lot of friends who seek therapy.”Describing Ira as “smart, talented, kind,” Fatima added, “She’s someone I truly love and respect.”Fatima also shared how important friendship and sisterhood are to her. She feels lucky to have strong bonds with co-stars like Sanya Malhotra, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Dia Mirza Rekhi, who have all added something special to her life.Fatima dismissed the idea that two actresses can’t get along, calling it “nonsense.” She said it has nothing to do with gender and more to do with a person’s confidence. According to her, if someone is insecure, they won’t enjoy working with any co-actor because they’ll always feel the need to compete for space.The 'Dangal' actress who will next be seen in 'Metro In Dino', shared what makes her feel connected to her female co-stars. She mentioned that although she didn’t have scenes with Neena Gupta or Konkona Sensharma in the film and just one with Sara Ali Khan, she built strong bonds while working on 'Dhak Dhak' with Dia Mirza and Ratna Pathak Shah. While Sanjana Sanghi was also part of the project, Fatima said she felt a deeper connection with Dia and Ratna.“They’re such strong women. They’re opinionated people with a very evolved understanding of life and relationships. When you work with secure women, secure not necessarily in terms of their career but also in their personal lives, they’ve a lot to give. So, I really enjoyed working with them, she stated."She said that when she was younger, she mostly had male friends because she was a tomboy. But as she got older, she started connecting more with women. One woman she feels very close to is director Shonali Bose, who worked with her on Modern Love Mumbai. Fatima said Shonali has faced many challenges in life but still has an amazing energy and love for life. She added that Shonali lights up any room she walks into, and she really loves her.