Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, the world’s heaviest woman who flew to India from Egypt for bariatric surgery in February, passed away in Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital yesterday of numerous conditions including heart disease and kidney dysfunction. She had turned 37 a week before and celebrated her birthday eating a chicken sandwich – her favourite snack – while wishing she could also have ice-cream and visit a beach!

Eman, a Bollywood follower and big Hrithik Roshan fan, was 500 kg when she was brought to Mumbai’s Saifee Hospital by a special aircraft from Alexandria for weight-loss treatment. Three months later she was transferred to Burjeel Hospital after much controversy about the treatment here. There was high drama over Eman’s discharge with the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police having to step in and the electronic media treating her like the celebrity she had become.

Hrithik Roshan’s film Kaabil had released just before Eman was brought to Mumbai. When the Egyptian woman shyly admitted to being the superstar’s fan and expressed the desire to dance him when she had lost weight, the Bollywood press played up the story sensationally. Hrithik was not in the country at the time but the actor sportingly responded by saying, “I would love to dance with Eman too. In fact, I am eager to meet her once I am back in India.”

His mother, Pinky Roshan, met Eman on Hrithik’s behalf and donated Rs. 10 lakh towards the surgery she was being prepared for. “I was really touched when I first read about her in the newspapers. I have been following the news about her and praying for her. I cannot imagine a person being bedridden for 25 years,” said Pinky Roshan then.

While condoling the Egyptian woman’s death just now, Hrithik’s father and veteran actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan told Peeping Moon.com, “I am very sad to hear about Eman’s demise. Everybody tried to take care of her in Mumbai. It’s a very unfortunate thing that has happened. I had no idea about it and only learned about her passing away from you. I am very sorry to hear the news.”

Inputs by - Anita Britto