Vikram Bhatt diagnosed with chronic illness Fibromyalgia, wants to reach out to Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Director Vikram Bhatt, in a recent interview, revealed that 18 years ago he was diagnosed with a chronic illness Fibromyalgia. In this, a person suffers from intense muscle pain and it also alters their sleep cycle, memory, and mood among other things.

Speaking with Bombay Times, Bhatt said, ‘There are days when you have flare-ups, and there are days when you are better. Only metaphysical things like meditation or good sleep can help. I have been lucky to have a good support system, but it’s hard. It has been a tough journey that has taken a lot out of me but has also made me stronger. I want to reach out to Samantha and tell her that if I can make it, so can you. I am so glad she spoke up. Hiding takes as much strength as fighting the pain.’

Vikram said initially no one was able to diagnose what was happening to him and it was his physiotherapist friend who helped him diagnose this condition as he used to go for physiotherapy and wasn’t getting better.

The director further stated that he tries to avoid undue stress, get his 7-8 hours of sleep, and doesn’t drink or smoke to avoid any kind of flare-up.

‘In the first four years when it was detected, I didn’t know myself what was going on. You experience migraines, body ache and depression. You think they are all different illnesses, and you try to cure them separately,’ he said.

Vikram also revealed the two poems which immensely helped him during these hard times — Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s ‘Agnipath’, and Invictus, the poem that kept Nelson Mandela alive in prison.

Also Watch | Asha Parekh asks why Indian women wear western clothes ‘even if they are fat’