Sridevi’s Harrowing Health Crisis on Set: How Weight Pressure Led to Fainting, Injury, and an Unfinished Film

 

Key Highlights

 

Renowned filmmaker Pankaj Parashar revealed that actress Sridevi fainted on the set of the film Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin due to extreme weight loss pressure from filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma

 

Sridevi followed a crash diet that included cutting out salt, which caused her blood pressure to drop drastically, leading to a fainting spell during shooting

 

The incident was severe: Sridevi hit her head on a table, remained unconscious for about 20 minutes, suffered facial injuries, and lost a tooth

 

This health crisis disrupted the film’s shooting schedule and ultimately contributed to the movie being abandoned after the financer exited and the producer passed away

 

The tragedy was part of a broader pattern of Sridevi’s struggles with extreme dieting, fainting spells, and health challenges exacerbated by relentless industry demands to maintain a slim figure

 

Close family and colleagues, including her husband Boney Kapoor and actor Nagarjuna, have recounted similar incidents where Sridevi fainted and was injured during crash dieting phases

 

The Incident: Crash Dieting to Critical Collapse on Set

 

Director Pankaj Parashar, who worked with Sridevi in films such as Chaalbaaz, recently spoke out about the incident during the shooting of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin, a project starring Sridevi alongside Akshay Kumar. He described how pressure from fellow filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, known for his unrelenting demands, led Sridevi to undertake a severe crash diet.

 

To meet these unrealistic expectations, Sridevi reportedly eliminated salt from her diet and underwent rapid weight loss. The resulting drop in blood pressure caused her to faint suddenly during filming. Parashar shared that she was unconscious for around 20 minutes after hitting her head hard against a table. The accident left her with facial injuries and a lost tooth, forcing a pause in the filming schedule.

 

Impact on the Film’s Production

 

The aftermath of the incident created a cascade of difficulties for the production. Parashar revealed that the shooting was progressing smoothly until this health crisis. Following Sridevi’s injury, the production faced setbacks, the financer withdrew support, and soon after, the producer passed away. Eventually, the film had to be abandoned altogether.

 

Actor Akshay Kumar corroborated this version of events in an earlier television appearance, explaining that the film was left incomplete and released only with the footage shot, ending abruptly with an on-screen message about unresolved storylines.

 

Broader Context: Sridevi’s Struggles with Physical Appearance Pressure

 

This episode was not isolated. Boney Kapoor, Sridevi’s husband and a prominent film producer, has spoken candidly about her lifelong battle with maintaining weight under harsh industry scrutiny. He recounted multiple occasions when she experienced blackouts due to low blood pressure from extreme dieting, which doctors repeatedly warned against.

 

Nagarjuna, a respected actor and friend, once shared an incident where Sridevi fainted in a bathroom while on a crash diet, resulting in her breaking a tooth. These accounts reinforce the physical toll that relentless pressure to conform to a certain image exacted on the late actress.

 

The Industry’s Dark Side: The Toll Behind the Glamour

 

Behind the dazzling on-screen performances, Sridevi faced intense personal challenges tied to body image and health. The demands from filmmakers and the public’s expectations amplified unsafe dieting practices, risking her well-being. Despite being an icon of grace and talent, these pressures contributed to dangerous health episodes that interrupted her work and harmed her.

 

This tragic narrative highlights the urgent need for healthier attitudes toward physical expectations in the entertainment industry, emphasizing wellbeing over appearance.

 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

 

Sridevi’s fainting and injury on the set of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin is a stark reminder of the physical and emotional burdens artists endure. It also sheds light on a film that never reached completion due to circumstances rooted in these struggles.

 

Her journey remains an important reflection on the cost of perfection in show business and calls for compassionate changes in how stars are treated and respected.

 

Sources: Economic Times, Indian Express