Fatima Sana Shaikh Opens Up About Her Epilepsy Journey
Fatima Sana Shaikh Discusses Her Health Challenges
Fatima Sana Shaikh, celebrated for her role in Aamir Khan's Dangal (2016), has bravely shared her experiences with epilepsy. The actress frequently advocates for awareness regarding this neurological disorder and recently recounted a personal incident from her filming days. During a podcast, she reflected on the moment she first experienced a seizure while working on Dangal. She opened up about the challenges posed by her medication and the overwhelming fear and confusion she felt upon regaining consciousness.
Fatima Sana Shaikh's Candid Talk on Epilepsy
In a recent episode of Soha Ali Khan's podcast, Fatima spoke openly about her diagnosis. She shared that her first seizure occurred while filming Dangal alongside Aamir Khan. While working on her latest project, Gustaakh Ishq, she informed the crew about her condition beforehand and commended them for their support. Fatima revealed that she has no recollection of her seizures, only the intense fear she felt before losing consciousness and waking up in a hospital.
Her Seizure Experience During Dangal
Fatima recounted the moment she had a seizure while training for Dangal. She explained, “I was training when it started, and I thought, ‘No, no, it’s nothing, it will be fine.’ But then it kept increasing. I told whoever was around me that I was about to have a seizure. No one really knew what it was — even I didn’t know. Luckily, Aamir (Khan) was there, and Sanya (Malhotra) was there, along with Kripa Shankar Bishnoi, who was training us. They quickly Googled it, found some answers, and moved me to the side and handled whatever happened).”
She shared that the production team acted swiftly to manage the situation, transporting her to the hospital for MRI and EEG tests, where she consulted a neurologist and was prescribed strong medication. However, she expressed that the side effects left her feeling depressed, irritable, and disoriented, making it difficult for her to walk properly. Eventually, she chose to stop the medication without notifying anyone. During that time, whenever she sensed a seizure approaching, she would lock herself in the washroom until it passed. This pattern persisted for nearly four years. Currently, she is filming an untitled project in the picturesque valley of Ladakh alongside Bobby Deol.