Sajda Pathan: A Child’s Journey from Streets to Oscar Spotlight

Sajda Pathan progressed from working in harsh child labor conditions to star in Anuja which obtained 2025 Academy Awards nomination status when she was nine years old. Nobody can ignore her story which celebrates both survival and strength.
A Life Transformed
The first part of Sajda’s life consisted of continuous hardship. Children across India experienced street work like Sajda Pathan who survived while deprived of fundamental youth rights in Delhi. Through her part in the film “Anuja,” she brought attention to serious problems faced by children forced into labor.
The Film that Tells Her Story
A young Indian girl faces an urgent decision in “Anuja” which presents her with a factory job or school education dilemma. Realistic elements in the movie come from involving the genuine protagonist Sajda who encountered parallel events. Through her performances, Sajda takes real-life experiences from her childhood and transforms them into cinema.
This documentary shows the incredibly difficult choices poverty-driven children must make. In the film, Sajda portrays Anuja while Ananya Shanbhag plays her older sister. Within their fictional relationship, they portray the true difficulties faced by numerous children who struggle with economic poverty.
Powerful Backing
The project has attracted significant support from industry giants. Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga serve as executive producers, with Mindy Kaling producing. Their involvement has amplified both the film’s profile and its critical social message.
“We are honored to be part of a story that sheds light on the harsh realities faced by children like Sajda,” Priyanka Chopra stated. The film goes beyond entertainment, serving as a platform to create awareness about child labor.
A Larger Conversation
The Oscar nomination for “Anuja” is more than an individual achievement. It represents a critical moment of global attention to child labor. Over 160 million children worldwide perform labor and most cases can be found in developing countries including India reports UNICEF.
Sajda’s story brings a human face to these statistics. It challenges viewers to look beyond numbers and recognize the individual dreams and potential of children caught in systemic poverty.
Breaking Barriers
Sajda’s journey from the streets to the potential Oscar stage is extraordinary. Her casting came through an extensive search for a child who could authentically represent the film’s narrative. What the filmmakers found was more than an actor – they discovered a symbol of hope and resilience.
Looking Forward
For Sajda, the Oscar nomination is a potential gateway to a different future. The exposure could provide educational and professional opportunities that were once unimaginable. The film’s team has committed to supporting her education and future development.
A Beacon of Hope
Sajda Pathan’s life story shows dramatic shifts between points. Through her journey from struggling with Delhi’s harsh streets to Academy Awards dreamwalking Sajda Pathan showcases the genuine potential hidden in every child provided with proper opportunities.
As a social movement “Anuja” serves beyond cinematic form to contend against societal standards and advocate through film for disenfranchised individuals. The world anxiously awaits the 2025 Oscars where Sajda represents both hope and child potential along with resilience as a central message.