Fatima Sana Shaikh became household name after portraying a biographical character Geeta Phogat in the Aamir Khan’s Dangal. The actress recently revealed she was diagnosed with epilepsy during the shoot of the sports drama. After years she now speaks openly about dealing with epilepsy a chronic brain disorder that causes seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary brain activity. She expressed her fear of experiencing a seizure in public and shared how she has gradually learned to manage her condition over time.

In a recent interview with Filmfare, Fatima Sana Shaikh 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.”

She emphasized on people’s lack of knowledge of epilepsy and how to support those battling with it. Sharing her experience she highlighted post seizure people with epilepsy often experience a sense of trauma. Sana added, “Because I was inconsistent with my medication, I would have more seizures. I didn’t want to take medicines; I was fighting not just with people, but also with the medication itself. I thought I didn’t need them to live a normal life.”

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."

Fatima expressed gratitude towards the paparazzi for how they understood her situation and were considerate. On the work front, she was last seen in Sam Bahadur, and her next project is Metro… In Dino.