Aamir Khan’s Take on Working With Fatima Sana Shaikh Again

Stirring up plenty of gossip and headlines, Aamir Khan found himself at the center of buzz once again—this time, about his equation with Fatima Sana Shaikh. After their unforgettable father-daughter dynamic in Dangal, the pair reunited in Thugs of Hindostan, but with a very different onscreen chemistry. What really caught people’s attention wasn’t just their new roles, but the rumor mill that went into overdrive over their offscreen relationship.

So, how did Fatima end up in Thugs of Hindostan? Turns out, the casting didn’t go as smoothly as one would expect for a star-studded film. Big names like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Shraddha Kapoor were approached, but for one reason or another, they all passed on the project. Left with limited choices, the filmmakers circled back to Fatima. While she had blown audiences away as Aamir’s wrestling champ daughter Geeta in Dangal, this time her role would land her side by side with Aamir in a whole new avatar.

Director Vijay Krishna Acharya and producer Aditya Chopra were apparently pretty nervous about how the audience would take to Aamir and Fatima as a romantic pair, given their previous father-daughter bond on screen. But Aamir, unfazed, shrugged off those worries, saying, “I don’t think viewers are so naive as to confuse reel and real life. We’re just actors playing characters.”

Old Onscreen Bonds, Rumors, and Real Connections

Despite Aamir’s confidence in the maturity of the fans, the rumor mill just wouldn’t quit. Whispers swirled about a possible real-life romance between Aamir and Fatima, getting tabloids and social media buzzing. But both actors have repeatedly brushed off these claims as baseless. For Aamir, Fatima is simply a talented colleague—neither a daughter nor a girlfriend.

Interestingly, Fatima herself opened up recently about her actual close ties—with Aamir’s daughter, Ira Khan. Fatima described how during emotionally tough times, she leaned on Ira for support, even going to her for help with therapy. She called Ira “kind and generous,” sharing that their friendship runs deep and is rooted in genuine care, not just professional connections.

Meanwhile, Thugs of Hindostan didn’t quite set the box office on fire, barely making a mark despite its gigantic cast and budget. But the real story here seems less about movie numbers and more about how Bollywood stars navigate persistent, sometimes wild relationship speculation. For Aamir and Fatima, it’s all about keeping things real, squashing rumors, and focusing on the work and the true friendships that happen behind the scenes.