Though onscreen they appear invincible to their fans, Bollywood idols are but humans, and as vulnerable as the rest of us when confronted by health problems. That they continue to perform their roles in films without letting on to the audience that they are suffering may be their greatest acting feat.
Salman Khan has been suffering from trigeminal disorder, a facial nerve problem that makes motor functions such as biting and chewing extremely painful. He is reportedly undergoing treatment for it but the process is a slow one.
Saif Ali Khan suffered a heart attack in 2007 while rehearsing for the Stardust Awards ceremony. He has a condition called myocardial infarction, brought on by poor circulation and lack of blood supply to the heart.
Manisha Koirala, star of Bollywood as well as Nepali, Telugu and Tamil films, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. She has since then undergone surgery and is on the road to recovery.
Hrithik Roshan had a fall leading to head injury while shooting for the film ‘Bang Bang’ in Phuket, Thailand. He got chronic subdural haematoma and had to have a blood clot from his brain surgically removed.
A near fatal accident suffered by Amitabh Bachchan while shooting for ‘Coolie’ took India’s breath away. Thousands of fans lined up in front of the hospital, praying for their idol’s speedy recovery. Bachchan’s spleen was ruptured, causing massive loss of blood, so much so that he was declared clinically dead. The industry’s most successful superstar says his fans’ prayers brought him back to life.