Firdaus Khan

Sajida Khan of Hyderabad is the country’s first woman audio engineer. Her name is listed among the “Top 200 Famous Women Personalities of India” in the category of “First Woman in Indian History,” and she is also counted among the top 14 Indian women in cinema and music. In addition, her name is recorded in the Indian Women’s History Museum. Through her outstanding work, she has built a unique identity not only nationally but also internationally.

Sajida Khan comes from a family of educated and successful people. Her father, Salim Ahmed Khan, retired as an Inspector from the RPF. and mother, Zainab, is a homemaker. "My brother Sajid works in IT, and my sister Shehnaz has completed an MBA. I completed my MA in English from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University. Apart from that, I have also completed three postgraduate diplomas. I am the Vice President of the Alumni Association of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University.”

Sajida Khan with other Women Achievers after an award ceremony at rashtrapati Bhavan

Explaining her work, Sajida Khan says, “An audio engineer is also called a sound engineer or recording engineer. An audio engineer helps in the production of recordings or live performances. They balance and adjust sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing, and audio effects. They also handle mixing, reproduction, and enhancement of sound. Their role is extremely important in the fields of sound and music.”

Sajida Khan is a well-known name in the film industry. At an age when many young people prefer spending time with friends, she dedicated herself to education, career, and public service.

She says, “Once, I visited a studio. I felt inspired there and decided to work in this field. I worked day and night. As a result, my film career progressed rapidly. I have worked in more than 60 films in various languages including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Bhojpuri. From dubbing and sound effects to complex final mixing, I handled every aspect of sound. I always tried to give my best. This dedication brought me success. I have been working in Telugu cinema for nearly 18 years.”

One of the notable achievements of her career is her work in the National Award-winning film Adavi Na Thalli Ra, which reflects her technical excellence and contribution to quality cinema.

Her presence in the studio reflects changing times. She says, “Every job comes with challenges. Nothing is as easy as it seems. In the beginning, some people doubted me. They thought this was a man’s profession. But my honesty, hard work, and dedication earned me respect. Those who once criticized me are now among the biggest supporters of my work style and skills. That itself is a major achievement.”

Sajida Khan receiving an honour

Sajida Khan has received more than 450 awards from different states across the country, including national awards. These include more than 150 certificates of appreciation and commendation.

She says, “My work gained national recognition when the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, honored me with the prestigious ‘First Ladies Award’ on January 20, 2018.”

This award recognized her as one of 112 women across the country who were pioneers in their respective fields and highlighted her significant contribution in breaking gender barriers in audio engineering.

On the occasion of Women’s Day, she was honored by the Government of Telangana with the “Telangana Distinguished Woman Award” on March 8, 2019.

She has also been conferred six honorary doctorates, which is remarkable and praiseworthy. She says, “I was awarded an honorary doctorate by United Theological Research University (USA) in Hyderabad on March 30, 2019. On the same day, I also received an honorary doctorate in social service from the same university’s external studies and research wing.

Global Human Peace University awarded me an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in New Delhi on May 27, 2023, for excellence in film and entertainment.

Sajida Khan listening to sounds

Research University USA awarded me an honorary doctorate in sound engineering in Chennai on November 3, 2024.

USA Theological University Texas awarded me an honorary doctorate in social service in Hyderabad on April 4, 2024.

Global Human Peace University awarded me an honorary doctorate in international relations in Chennai on June 28, 2025.”

Besides awardss, Sajida Khan’s name is recorded in many record books, including Telugu Book of Records, Telangana Book of Records, High Range Book of World Records (USA), Wonder Book of Records (International USA), Winner Book of Records, World Book of Records United Kingdom, Life Book of Records, and The Book of Telangana Records – Telangana Koti Pratibhanthula Khazana.

Her name is also included in the general knowledge sections of many competitive exams and educational platforms such as IBPS, SSC, UPSC, RRB, RBI, SBI, and many others.

Sajida Khan’s journey and an interview with her have been included in the international audiobook Women in Audio, a compilation of interviews with accomplished women in this field from around the world. The first edition of Women in Audio (Audio Engineering Society) was published by Routledge in England in December 2019.

Sajida Khan in the recording studio

For more than fifteen years, Sajida Khan has also been associated with public service. She works for education, literature, health, and women’s empowerment. She says, “I started working on free audiobooks in 2019. So far, I have completed around 70 books. Once I attended a book launch event, and seeing the prices of books, I felt literature should be promoted more widely. That is why I started working on free books. God willing, this year I will launch an app containing all these books. I hope this app will prove important and useful in the fields of education and literature. Awareness is greatly needed in health, education, and women’s empowerment. I have visited around 200 schools as a guest.”

Sajida Khan’s story is a powerful inspiration for aspiring women engineers and technicians. Through her excellent work, she is amplifying diverse voices in the field of audio engineering and giving it new dimensions. She strongly supports encouraging women in technical professions.

She says, “Women should be made aware of education and different career options. I want to tell the youth, especially girls entering this field, that success in any profession requires not only talent but also hard work, dedication, and patience. Prepare yourself for every challenge and move forward to fulfill your dreams. I also want to tell the younger generation to use social media positively and according to need. Instead of wasting time on it, focus on health, education, career, and learning new technologies.”

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Sajida Khan has been freelancing since 2018. She says, “I want to open my own private studio. At present, work is underway on a Hindi thriller and suspense movie. My entire focus is on it right now. Its name will be announced soon.”