Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Sheikh has revealed that she developed a serious eating disorder after gaining weight for a film role. In an interview with Indian media, the actress shared that she had to consume between 2,500 and 3,000 calories daily to put on weight for her character in Dangal. The exact intake depended on the demands of the role she was portraying.
She explained that after filming for Dangal ended, she stopped exercising regularly, but her eating habits remained the same. As a result, she developed bulimia, a severe eating disorder. Fatima admitted that during the peak of the illness, she would eat continuously for up to two hours and then force herself to vomit to prevent weight gain. She said she felt a complete loss of control over her eating patterns, sometimes overeating and at other times refusing to eat altogether.
The actress also spoke about the emotional impact of the condition. She revealed that she went through intense mental stress and feelings of guilt. According to Fatima, it took her a long time to realise that the issue was not only related to food but also deeply connected to her mental health. She added that she is now more mindful of her wellbeing and is working towards maintaining a healthier and more balanced lifestyle for herself.