Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, who is currently gearing up her upcoming film Gustaakh Ishq with Vijay Varma, has been grabbing attention not just for the movie but for her recent emotional revelations. While recalling her journey after the success of Dangal, the actress opened up about a phase of her life that many were unaware of. She revealed that her physical transformation for the blockbuster came at a personal cost. What began as dedicated fitness for a role gradually turned into something she struggled with for years, an eating disorder called Bulimia.
Fatima Sana Shaikh on battling with Bulimia
During the conversation with Rhea Chakraborty, Fatima shared that the rigorous preparation for Dangal required her to gain weight rapidly and consume a high-calorie diet. According to her, she was eating around 2,500–3,000 calories every day with intense workouts to maintain her athletic build for the character. However, when the shooting ended, her routine stopped but her eating pattern did not. She said she slipped into unhealthy eating, bingeing for hours, followed by long periods of not eating at all.
The actress expressed that her relationship with food became toxic to the point that it affected her self-worth and day-to-day life. Fatima admitted that she began spiralling emotionally, struggling between loss of control and guilt. She recalled fearing stepping outside her house because she felt ashamed of losing control over her own habits. She revealed that this cycle continued for almost two years.
It was during this difficult phase that her Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra stepped in and confronted her about her behaviour. Fatima shared that Sanya’s concern made her reflect on what she was silently dealing with. She added that she later found support and healthier coping mechanisms because of her close friend and screenwriter Rahul Mody, who encouraged her to shift from guilt to acceptance. Fatima said his support helped her rebuild discipline with kindness instead of punishment.
The actress also opened up about the pressure that comes with social media and body expectations. She pointed out that eating disorders are often linked to emotional numbness and insecurities rather than hunger. According to Fatima, someone may appear perfectly fine on the outside while quietly battling “dark thoughts” on the inside.
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
According to Mayo Clinic report, Bulimia Nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious eating disorder in which a person engages in repeated episodes of binge eating, consuming large amounts of food in a short span. followed by compensatory behaviours like self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise or prolonged fasting to avoid weight gain.
Causes of Bulimia
Bulimia can be triggered by multiple factors, as reported
Body-image pressure
Low self-esteem
Extreme dieting or sudden routine changes
Emotional stress or trauma
Comparison through social media and public scrutiny
Profession-related physical expectations (common in modelling, sports and films)
Symptoms to watch out for
Some of the common signs include:
Eating unusually large amounts of food in one sitting
Feeling lack of control over eating
Fasting or skipping meals after bingeing
Constant guilt or shame associated with food
Fear of gaining weight despite normal or low weight
Mood swings and social withdrawal
Sore throat, dental issues and fatigue (in long-term cases involving vomiting)
Treatment and recovery
Bulimia is treatable with the right support. Some widely recommended treatment methods include, according to Nationwide's Children report:
Counselling and psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Nutrition planning and supervised eating
Support groups
Medication if prescribed by mental health professionals
Building a supportive and non-judgmental environment
Recovery usually involves rebuilding a positive relationship with food, body image and emotional well-being, something Fatima has been strongly advocating through her openness.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Fatima's upcoming movie Gustaakh Ishq is slated to release on November 21.
Fatima Sana Shaikh on battling with Bulimia
During the conversation with Rhea Chakraborty, Fatima shared that the rigorous preparation for Dangal required her to gain weight rapidly and consume a high-calorie diet. According to her, she was eating around 2,500–3,000 calories every day with intense workouts to maintain her athletic build for the character. However, when the shooting ended, her routine stopped but her eating pattern did not. She said she slipped into unhealthy eating, bingeing for hours, followed by long periods of not eating at all.The actress expressed that her relationship with food became toxic to the point that it affected her self-worth and day-to-day life. Fatima admitted that she began spiralling emotionally, struggling between loss of control and guilt. She recalled fearing stepping outside her house because she felt ashamed of losing control over her own habits. She revealed that this cycle continued for almost two years.
It was during this difficult phase that her Dangal co-star Sanya Malhotra stepped in and confronted her about her behaviour. Fatima shared that Sanya’s concern made her reflect on what she was silently dealing with. She added that she later found support and healthier coping mechanisms because of her close friend and screenwriter Rahul Mody, who encouraged her to shift from guilt to acceptance. Fatima said his support helped her rebuild discipline with kindness instead of punishment.
The actress also opened up about the pressure that comes with social media and body expectations. She pointed out that eating disorders are often linked to emotional numbness and insecurities rather than hunger. According to Fatima, someone may appear perfectly fine on the outside while quietly battling “dark thoughts” on the inside.
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
According to Mayo Clinic report, Bulimia Nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious eating disorder in which a person engages in repeated episodes of binge eating, consuming large amounts of food in a short span. followed by compensatory behaviours like self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise or prolonged fasting to avoid weight gain.Causes of Bulimia
Bulimia can be triggered by multiple factors, as reported Body-image pressure
Low self-esteem
Extreme dieting or sudden routine changes
Emotional stress or trauma
Comparison through social media and public scrutiny
Profession-related physical expectations (common in modelling, sports and films)
Symptoms to watch out for
Some of the common signs include:Eating unusually large amounts of food in one sitting
Feeling lack of control over eating
Fasting or skipping meals after bingeing
Constant guilt or shame associated with food
Fear of gaining weight despite normal or low weight
Mood swings and social withdrawal
Sore throat, dental issues and fatigue (in long-term cases involving vomiting)
Treatment and recovery
Bulimia is treatable with the right support. Some widely recommended treatment methods include, according to Nationwide's Children report:Counselling and psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Nutrition planning and supervised eating
Support groups
Medication if prescribed by mental health professionals
Building a supportive and non-judgmental environment
Recovery usually involves rebuilding a positive relationship with food, body image and emotional well-being, something Fatima has been strongly advocating through her openness.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Fatima's upcoming movie Gustaakh Ishq is slated to release on November 21.
