Sadia Khateeb Returns to Kashmir for Shooting, Calls Experience “Blissful and Amazing”

SRINAGAR: Bhaderwah-born actress Sadia Khateeb, who has been steadily making her mark in Bollywood, is back in her hometown Kashmir, to shoot for an untitled upcoming project. The actress described the experience of working in the Valley as “absolutely blissful and amazing.”

Sadia Khateeb, 27, first won acclaim with her debut in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Shikara (2020), a film based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. For her, returning to shoot in Kashmir feels like a homecoming. “This is the second time that I am shooting here. The first time was for my debut film Shikara. My priorities in life are my family, my hometown, and my work,” she said in a recent interview.

The actress shared how deeply she values being surrounded by nature. “I am always fond of nature, and I have just got all of it together because of my shoots, which I love the most. So yes, the feeling is blissful and amazing,” she added.

Although details of the untitled project remain under wraps, Khateeb has been spotted filming at several scenic locations across Kashmir. Videos from the shoot show her receiving a warm reception at the Srinagar airport, where she was welcomed with a garland of flowers. Locals have also gathered to watch her work at different sites, adding to the excitement around her presence in the Valley.

Born and raised in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, Sadia Khateeb entered Bollywood with Shikara, playing a pivotal role in the story of Shanti and Shiv Dhar, set against the backdrop of the 1990 Kashmiri Pandit exodus. She later featured in Aanand L. Rai’s family drama Raksha Bandhan (2022) and most recently in The Diplomat (2025), alongside John Abraham, where she portrayed Uzma Ahmed in a political thriller exploring India–Pakistan relations.

Khateeb has also wrapped up shooting for Dadi Ki Shaadi, a comedy film with Neetu Kapoor, and is part of Omung Kumar’s upcoming film Silaa, co-starring Harshvardhan Rane and Bigg Boss 18 winner Karanveer Mehra. The Silaa team was recently filming in Vietnam before resuming schedules in Kashmir.

In recent conversations with the media, Khateeb reflected on her career and personal fears, admitting that her greatest fear is “losing people I love.” She also shared how her journey into films almost took a different turn when she blocked a casting call for Laila Majnu, thinking it was fake — a moment she now recalls with humour and gratitude.

Despite her growing profile in Bollywood, Khateeb continues to emphasise her attachment to Kashmir. Each return to the Valley, she says, reconnects her with her roots and renews her sense of purpose as an artist.

While fans eagerly await the announcement of her untitled project being shot in Kashmir, Sadia Khateeb’s packed line-up — including Silaa and Dadi Ki Shaadi — promises to keep her in the spotlight. For now, her presence in the Valley has already created buzz among locals and film enthusiasts, adding another chapter to her journey from Bhaderwah to Bollywood