Fatima Sana Shaikh participates to the trailer launch of the upcoming Indian film 'Thugs of Hindostan' in Mumbai. File/AFP

Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who will be soon seen as Indira Gandhi in “Sam Bahadur,” recently took to her social media to raise awareness about epilepsy which she has also been suffering from. November is known as the Epilepsy Awareness Month. Fatima Sana Shaikh has been making a constant effort to address this among the people and raise awareness about the same.

The actress addressed the cause while she opened up a conversation on her social media for people to share their stories, struggles, and challenges about the same. Taking to the story section of her Instagram, she dropped a question writing: “It’s epilepsy month. Share your story, struggle, challenges Or just ask.”

She also opened up about when she learnt about her health condition, stating that it was during the time of “Dangal” preparations she got to know about the disorder. On being asked by one of her followers about when she found out about it, the actress wrote: “(I) was diagnosed when I was training for ‘Dangal’. I got an episode and woke up straight at the hospital... (I) was in denial first (for five years).

And now, I have learnt to embrace it, and work and live around it.” On how she has been working with this condition, Fatima wrote that she informs all her directors that she has epilepsy. “They have always been very supportive and understanding. They know of the challenges they might face on the days I get an episode.”

She also urged people to share their stories of epilepsy to fight the stigma around the disorder: “Feel free to share your story of epilepsy here.” On the work front, Fatima will be seen in ‘Dhak Dhak’ Directed and co-written by Tarun Dudeja, and co-produced by Taapsee Pannu, Pranjal Khandhdiya and Ayush Maheshwari.

Fatima began her career as a child artist in “Chachi 420” and “One 2 Ka 4.” Years later, she played Zoya in the Indian drama film Tahaan, which received “The German Star of India award” at “Bollywood and Beyond” festival at Stuttgart, Germany in 2009. Fatima was selected for Nitesh Tiwari’s biographical sports film “Dangal” along with Sanya Malhotra, who had never acted before.

Shaikh was chosen to portray Geeta Phogat. To prepare for her role, she watched several videos on wrestling to understand “how wrestlers move, walk, their body language”. Both Malhotra and Sheikh went through five rounds of auditions, physical training and workshops with Tiwari and Aamir Khan. They were trained by coach and former wrestler Kripa Shankar Patel Bishnoi.

Released in 2016, “Dangal” received critical acclaim and became the highest-grossing Indian film ever . Fatima will be seen as Indira Gandhi, along with Vicky Kaushal and Sanya Malhotra in an untitled 2022 Sam Manekshaw biography film directed by Meghna Gulzar.

Agencies