Fatima Sana Shaikh: Actress Opens Up on Binge Eating and Bulimia After Dangal

While transformations in Bollywood are often praised, the mental and physical challenges that follow are rarely discussed. In a recent podcast, "Chapter 2 with Rhea Chakraborty," actressFatima Sana Shaikh opened up about her struggles after Dangal. She explained how a disciplined fitness routine gradually turned into binge eating, guilt, and bulimia .

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How did she prepare for ' Dangal ' (Dangal actress transformation story)

For the film "Dangal," Fatima (Fatima Sana Shaikh depression) trained like an athlete. She worked out for about three hours daily and consumed 2,500 to 3,000 calories to gain weight for the role. After the shoot ended, the intensity of her training decreased, but her eating habits remained the same. Gradually, her balance began to deteriorate.

'I live in two extremes' (Fatima Sana Shaikh mental health)

Fatima admitted that her nature tends toward "extremes." "I live in two extremes. If I'm not balanced, I go to one extreme," she said. Sometimes eating for hours at a time, followed by guilt and calorie counting—this cycle became common for her. She admitted that the problem wasn't the food, but the insecurities and emotions—"You're eating your feelings."

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A year-long battle with bulimia

In a most emotional revelation, Fatima revealed that she struggled with bulimia for nearly a year. After binge eating, she would vomit to "remove" the calories. On the outside, she appeared fit and strong, but on the inside, she was crumbling. She said, "With mental health disorders, everything seems fine on the outside, but the real battle is in the mind."

The pressure of perfection on Instagram

Fatima admits that the pressure to have a "perfect body" is immense in the industry. The desire to appear fit and glamorous on social media has bound her to an image. She still thinks about food, but the difference is that she's more conscious now. "Sometimes I binge, but it's my choice. I don't punish myself," she said.

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Return to balance

His recovery began not with a dramatic turn of events, but with the support of friends. One friend brought him to his attention without judgment, another taught him the habit of balanced and nutritious eating—smoothies, balanced meals. The message was clear: “You can eat, you can eat to your heart's content.”

FAQs

Question 1: What did Fatima Sana Shaikh open up about?

She spoke openly about the impact of her physical transformation after 'Dangal', her experience of binge eating, guilt and battling bulimia.

Question 2: How did he prepare for 'Dangal'?

Fatima trained rigorously like an athlete, working out for about three hours daily and consuming 2,500–3,000 calories for the role.

Question 3: What happened after the shoot was over?

After the shoot ended, her workouts decreased, but her eating habits remained the same. This threw her off balance and led to binge eating.

Question 4: Did Fatima also struggle with bulimia?

Yes, she admitted to struggling with bulimia for about a year. She would vomit after overeating to avoid adding calories.

Question 5: How did he understand the problem of food?

Fatima said the problem wasn't with the food, but with insecurities and emotional struggles. She realized she was trying to process her emotions through food.

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