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Fatima Sana Shaikh revealed that she was diagnosed with epilepsy while she was working on Dangal. She mentioned that she was so ‘afraid’ that she stopped attending events.
Fatima Sana Shaikh was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Fatima Sana Shaikh became a household name when she essayed the role of Geeta Phogat in Aamir Khan’s Dangal. While she was a successful child artist, her role in Dangal made her even more popular. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that she was diagnosed with epilepsy during Dangal. She mentioned how she was afraid of having a seizure in public and how she has learnt to cope with the disease over time.
In a conversation with Filmfare, Fatima Sana Shaikh revealed how she struggled to accept her diagnosis. She mentioned that she was aware of the stigma and said that she was afraid that people might label her as an attention-seeker. The actor said, “I was diagnosed with epilepsy during the Dangal shoot. At first, I was in denial and wasn’t willing to accept that I had a neurological disorder, so I didn’t take any medication. I was scared I might have an episode in front of people. Epilepsy carries a lot of stigma. People think you’re either on drugs, seeking attention, or possessed and should be avoided.”
Shaikh mentioned how she struggled with the medication because she thought she didn’t need them. She revealed how she would get seizures once or twice a week and that made her avoid attending events. She continued, “I would get seizures once or twice a week, and the anxiety before events was overwhelming. Flashing lights are a known trigger for epilepsy, though they don’t always cause a seizure. But, I was so afraid that I stopped attending events and screenings.”
The actor revealed that she told about her condition to the paparazzi who were ‘incredibly considerate.’ She added that they started clicking pictures of her without the flash. She revealed that she manages her schedule well but there are days when her episodes get bad or she is dealing with migraines.
On the work front, Shaikh was last seen in Sam Bahadur. She will be next seen in Metro…In Dino.