# Fatima Sana Shaikh's Heart-Stopping Seizure on Dangal Set: How Aamir Khan and Sanya Malhotra Saved the Day Imagine collapsing mid-scene on one of Bollywood's biggest sets, with cameras rolling and stars like **Aamir Khan** watching— that's the nightmare **Fatima Sana Shaikh** lived through during the shoot of *Dangal*.[1][3] Fatima's journey with **epilepsy** began right in the thick of preparing for her breakout role as Geeta Phogat. Diagnosed during intense training, she woke up in a hospital after her first episode, learning about the neurological disorder that causes sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain, leading to seizures.[1][3][4] In denial for five years, she skipped medication, fearing the stigma—people mistaking it for drug use, attention-seeking, or even possession.[1] Seizures hit her once or twice a week, triggered by flashing lights, stress, sleep deprivation, or dehydration, leaving her anxious about public events and screenings.[1][4] But on the *Dangal* set, luck was on her side. As she recalled in a recent interview, she suffered an **epileptic seizure**—and **Aamir Khan** and co-star **Sanya Malhotra** were right there, springing into action to help her through it.[1] Their presence turned a terrifying moment into one of support, highlighting the unspoken bonds on set. Fatima has since embraced her condition, sharing openly to bust myths: she experiences tonic-clonic, absence, clonic, and focal seizures, with recovery ranging from 20 minutes to a full day of migraines, confusion, and body pain.[4] Her story doesn't end there. Fatima faced worse—like multiple seizures on a flight to the USA, forcing an emergency landing in Dubai. High-dose sedatives left her "drugged out" and immobile, halting shoots for *Sam Bahadur* and *Dhak Dhak*.[2][6] Even co-star **Vijay Varma** felt protective after a seizure on *Gustaakh Ishq* sets, following her instructions to give space and keep her safe.[5] Today, she manages it by prioritizing rest, hydration, and avoiding triggers, proving resilience amid bulimia struggles post-*Dangal* weight gain.[3]
*Fatima Sana Shaikh embodying strength amid challenges (Unsplash free stock image)*
Citations
1.https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/fatima-sana-shaikh-feared-epilepsy-seizures-on-dangal-set-possessed-drugs-2627620-2024-11-04
2.https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/fatima-sana-shaikh-epilepsy-flight-attack-65191
3.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/fatima-sana-shaikhs-struggle-with-epilepsy-and-bulimia-what-are-these-conditions-and-how-they-affect-daily-life/articleshow/125425246.cms
4.https://www.epilepsyassociation.com/epilepsyu/home-she-slays-national-epilepsy-day-fatima-sana-shaikh-opens-up-about-her-struggle-with-epilepsy-says-she-has-learnt-to-live-around-it-she-slays-national-epilepsy-day-fatima-sana
5.https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/vijay-varma-recalls-feeling-protective-of-fatima-sana-shaikh-after-she-had-a-seizure-on-gustaakh-ishq-sets-felt-so-vulnerable-and-helpless-9682553
6.https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/how-to-handle-epilepsy-fatima-sana-shaikhs-mid-flight-seizure-sparks-discussion-ws-dkl-9412446.html
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