‘Her presence of mind stayed with me’: Sadia Khateeb on portraying Uzma Ahmad in The Diplomat

Bollywood actor Sadia Khateeb says it was Uzma Ahmad’s courage and presence of mind that inspired her to take up The Diplomat, a film based on the real-life story of an Indian woman who was forced to marry a Pakistani man at gunpoint before being rescued and brought back to India.

Sadia plays the role of Uzma in the film. Recalling how she came on board, she told Patriot in an exclusive interview, “I was approached for a test for this character named Uzma. I did the test, got selected, and later, when I read the script—her strength, her courage, her presence of mind—it all inspired me to fall in love with the project.”

She added, “This story is one of bravery and resilience. It shows how crucial the presence of mind is during difficult situations. Whether men or women, anyone can take away a sense of responsibility and strength from this film. Uzma’s story is something everyone should watch and learn from. Her presence of mind is something I’ve taken home personally, and I hope others do too.”

The 27-year-old actor also spoke about working alongside John Abraham, calling the experience “absolutely fantastic.”

“It’s something I’ll cherish for a lifetime. I’ve always looked up to him. Watching him work was inspirational—he’s a director’s actor,” she said, adding that it was “commendable how someone who has achieved so much stardom is still so hardworking and passionate, just like a newcomer.”

A breakthrough moment

Reflecting on how she landed the role, Sadia shared, “I was called for an audition by casting director Jogi Malang Sir. I performed two scenes—one where Uzma enters the embassy, and another where she convinces Tahir to go to the embassy. After we finished, Jogi Sir just looked at me and said, ‘Sadia, see you on set.’ I’ll never forget that moment.”

Sadia credits her debut film Shikara (2020) as the foundation of her acting career. “I truly believe whatever I’ve learnt about acting, I learnt on the sets of Shikara. It was my first acting gig, my first job. Though the role was emotionally intense and not easy to portray, working with Vidhu Vinod Chopra really shaped me as an actor.”

The Raksha Bandhan actor believes that roles find her, not the other way around.

“My first film wasn’t something I chose—it came to me, and I’m extremely grateful for it. The same happened with The Diplomat. I’m still a newcomer and just starting out. I feel blessed that these scripts came my way. You can’t always choose projects—sometimes, the script chooses you,” she said.

Speaking about her home state, Jammu and Kashmir, Sadia said the region has far more to offer than just political narratives.

“There are so many beautiful cultural and emotional stories in J&K that remain untapped. Our films often focus on politics, but there’s so much more to the traditions and lifestyle of the people there.”

On women in Indian cinema

Sadia also noted how the portrayal of women in Indian cinema has evolved over time.

“It’s definitely improved over the past 20 years. There was a time when female characters were poorly written. Now we’re seeing more meaningful, layered roles. Cinema is evolving with society, and I hope more writers continue to create strong, women-centric stories.”

Also Read: ‘I enjoy doing comedy roles:’ Rajkummar Rao on Bhool Chuk Maaf

Her memories of Delhi are fond and food-filled. “My friends and family live there, so every time I visit, I make it a point to go to Jama Masjid, Nizamuddin, and eat at places like Kareem’s and Salim’s. Even if I’m there for just half a day, having good food is a priority.”

She added, “Last winter, we went there for my sister’s wedding shopping. I’ve also come to Delhi for shooting Raksha Bandhan and Shikara—both were amazing experiences.”