Post by : Meena
Hassan
Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about her personal battle with bulimia and emotional eating—issues that have afflicted her since her transformation for Dangal. While promoting her new film Gustaakh Ishq with Vijay Varma, she shared her experiences on the podcast Chapter 2 with Rhea Chakraborty, offering an honest glimpse into the mental health hurdles she's faced throughout her career.
Fatima revealed that her complicated relationship with food began during the intensive preparation for her role in Dangal, where she portrayed wrestler Geeta Phogat. To authentically depict the character, she trained for nearly three hours each day and consumed between 2,500 and 3,000 calories daily. Although this rigorous regimen served her well during filming, returning to a balanced lifestyle proved difficult once the project concluded. The high-calorie intake lingered even as her training intensity diminished, leading to a misalignment that eventually cultivated an unhealthy pattern.
This shift resulted in an emotional reliance on food, which significantly impacted her mental health. Fatima candidly revealed that she struggled with bulimia for two years, becoming ensnared in a strict and obsessive dieting mentality. She explained that food dominated her thoughts, making it tough to maintain a healthy outlook. Her coping strategies frequently involved binge eating for extended periods during emotionally taxing times, followed by severe caloric restriction. This debilitating cycle not only affected her quality of life but at times prevented her from even leaving her home.
Reflecting on her path to recovery, Fatima recalled a defining moment when her Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra confronted her about her eating behaviors. This conversation prompted her to introspect, stirring feelings of shame while also unveiling the psychological toll of her disorder. She also credited screenwriter Rahul Mody with guiding her towards a healthier eating pattern and providing consistent emotional support.
Fatima emphasized that mental health struggles often remain hidden, even when an individual appears perfectly happy on the outside. She spoke about grappling with “demons and dark thoughts” internally, clarifying that overeating was not the primary issue—her tendency to employ food as a distraction from difficult emotions, insecurities, and stress was.
Despite these challenges, Fatima expressed that she is becoming increasingly attuned to her emotional triggers and is actively striving to cultivate a kinder, more balanced relationship with food. She recognizes that the journey is lengthy but is dedicated to healing and self-acceptance.
On the career front, Fatima was recently featured in Netflix's Aap Jaisa Koi alongside R. Madhavan and took on a significant role in the sequel to the ensemble drama Life in a... Metro. Her upcoming film, Gustaakh Ishq, is already creating a buzz as she continues its promotional activities.
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