[1] Born in a Muslim family, Fathima began her public career as a newsreader for more than 25 years with DD Podhigai,[1][failed verification] the Tamil version of Doordarshan news, and later worked for Jaya TV.
[2][3][verification needed]She subsequently moved on to work in television serials, films and theatre performances, operating in the Tamil and Malayalam languages.
[citation needed] Fathima started her own drama production group, Fab's Theatre, which performs shows in Chennai.
The group has made shows such as Sethu Vandirikkaen and Thaarama Tallyaa directed by Fathima, which opened in February 2016.
[7][8] She was also briefly involved in politics, and campaigned for the AIADMK on behalf of Jayalalithaa, and eventually took up a role as a spokesperson of the party.