Earlier, there were reports of Fatima Sana Shaikh being onboarded for the upcoming film titled The Wives, helmed by Fatima Sana Shaikh. However, the filmmaker has quashed the reports. Additionally, new reports suggest that the actress has recently walked out of another big studio film, which was also being helmed by Madhur. This has led to the project being eventually shelved.
Madhur Bhandarkar breaks silence on Fatima Sana Shaikh in The Wives
On September 22, 2025, a report from Hindustan Times claimed that Fatima Sana Shaikh was never a part of Madhur Bhandarkar`s upcoming directorial, The Wives, after reports about the actress Fatima Sana Shaikh starring in the film surfaced. However, Madhur announced the project with three other actresses, Regina Cassandra, Sonali Kulkarni and Mouni Roy.
Madhur had told the HT, “The shoot of the film has been wrapped up and I can`t wait to see the audience reaction. The film has come out well and will start the post-production soon.” When asked about Fatima`s casting, he revealed, “The reports around her casting were all untrue. She never signed the film or never roped in to play one of the wives in the film.”
Fatima Sana Shaikh walks out of a big studio film
According to a latest Hindustan Times report, Fatima has recently walked out of a big studio-led untitled film. This film was also being helmed by Madhur and backed by Zee Studios. However, the reason of Fatima`s exit from the project is still unclear.
A source close to the project said, “Fatima Sana Shaikh has walked out of the film that was set to be directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. In fact, the two also made an appearance together at an award show early this year, where they two planned to announce their association, but it didn`t happen as decided. The film is now shelved.”
Fatima Sana Shaikh started her career as a child artist, appearing in films such as Chachi 420 in 1997 and One 2 Ka 4 in 2001. However, the actress gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of wrestler Geeta Phogat in Aamir Khan`s 2016 sports blockbuster Dangal.
