Sadia Khateeb on playing Kashmiri Pandit in Shikara and burkha-clad Muslim in The Diplomat: ‘Scripts choose you’ | Bollywood News

Sadia Khateeb made her debut as Shanti Sapru, a Kashmiri Pandit, in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 2020 directorial Shikara. Little did she know that just five years later, she’d be essaying an Indian Muslim woman stuck in Pakan in Shivam Nair’s The Diplomat. “I don’t know. It’s not something I sit and choose. It’s something that happens. There’s been a long time period between these. So it’s something that comes your way after a lot of auditions. When you look back, you only see the summarised version. We miss the years in between,” Sadia tells SCREEN.In an interview, Sadia Khateeb opens up on her choices, nepotism in the film industry, and her preparation for the real-life role of Uzma Ahmed in John Abraham-starrer The Diplomat.
You’ve only been in three movies in the five years since you debuted — Shikara, Raksha Bandhan (2022), and The Diplomat. Has that been a conscious decision?I’ve been very precise with one thing: I have to choose quality over quantity. I don’t have to fall into the trap of doing something that my heart doesn’t allow. Sometimes, you end up doing that because I understand the pressure that comes along. But my heart wasn’t willing to give up. It was hoping for something better. It was wishing for something nicer. It only makes me feel grateful that, wow, God’s plan is happening, and it’s going in the right direction.
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When The Diplomat came to you, did you have any concerns about whether the audience would see you as a burkha-clad Muslim after your debut as a Kashmiri Pandit in Shikara?
Not at all. That’s not how I see it. I just see if what I read is something I’d like to do, who all are making it, if it’s a meaty part. That’s how you go about it. Thankfully, I can’t corelate both of them at all. It’s majorly the script that chooses you, not the other way round.
Did you meet Uzma to prepare for your role in The Diplomat?
After the film released, I met her for the first time at a promotional podcast. My director was very sure that he didn’t want me to meet her because he asked me to do what the script wants. I just followed the human emotions, considered what I’d have done had I been trapped in the same situation, and lening to my director who had his own vision. He had met Uzma, he knew more about the character. Whatever he narrated, I put my insights into it, went ahead and lived it.Story continues below this ad
Is it true that during the domestic abuse scenes, you chose to actually go through the motions for effect, instead of staging them?
I didn’t choose to do that. When we’re acting and trying to be as real as possible, then actors sometimes forget who they are. We’re just in character in front of the camera, living that part. Similar thing happened with me and my co-actor. Now, when I look back, things like these help. Sometimes not, maybe. Why do you want to get beaten up? But yeah, the more honesty, the more it’s impactful.
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Is it also true that your debut film was supposed to be Sajid Ali’s Laila Majnu (2018)?Story continues below this ad
That’s how it all started. I was an engineering student. I’m from Jammu & Kashmir, and had no background in acting. They asked me to play Laila and I blocked the number, thinking it’s a fake call. Imagine if you’re living in a small town, would you have any idea who’s actually casting in Mumbai? It can be human trafficking!
Outsiders often blame nepotism for not making it in the film industry. Then how do you see yourself getting a good break sitting in Jammu & Kashmir, with no ambition of becoming an actor?
It’s all destiny, 200%. Now that I’m a part of the film industry, I can proudly say it’s all destiny. My ser’s friend, a Kashmiri guy, was scrolling through Instagram, sitting next to the casting director. He spotted and made the call. Today, that casting director is a great friend of mine.
Now that you’ve got a foot in the door, how tough is it to sustain the momentum?Story continues below this ad
It’s a non-stop journey. It’s tough like in any other profession. It’s as difficult for everyone, whether you’re an actor, a journal, even the CEO of a company, the director of a board.