Bollywood Star Fatima Sana Shaikh Bravely Battles Bulimia and Epilepsy

In a candid interview, Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has revealed her struggles with two significant health issues - bulimia and epilepsy. Fatima shared that after gaining weight for her debut film Dangal in 2016, she developed an unhealthy obsession with her body image, leading to a toxic relationship with food.

Fatima admitted to battling bulimia for two years, as she would starve herself out of guilt for eating too much. "Food became my comfort space. I could eat nonstop for hours. I hate myself because I have no control. I operate in extremes," she confessed. Fatima's friends, including co-star Sanya Malhotra, eventually helped her recognize this unhealthy pattern and adopt a more balanced approach to nutrition.

Alongside her eating disorder, Fatima also opened up about living with epilepsy, a condition she initially denied and avoided treating. "I thought nothing is wrong with me. Why are you giving me pagalon wali dawai (medicines for mentally challenged people)?" she said, revealing her misconceptions about the disorder. However, with time and support, Fatima has learned to manage her epilepsy, though she still experiences anxiety about potential episodes, especially in public.

Today, Fatima is on a journey of self-acceptance, acknowledging that her mental health struggles do not define her. "It's just that you're weak in the mind. Whenever someone has a mental health disorder, everything seems fine on the outside. All the demons and dark thoughts are within you, and you're dealing with them all by yourself," she shared.