Sana Saeed has opened up about one of the most difficult chapters in her life, revealing she battled bulimia for six years before finally realizing she had an eating disorder. Remembered for her role as young Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Sana reflected on the shame, isolation and body image pressures that defined her journey, as she shared how she eventually found the strength to fully recover over the next four years.
Sana Saeed talks about the shame surrounding the fight against bulimia
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sana Saeed recalled how she spent years believing her condition was just a bad habit rather than a recognized eating disorder.“What felt like it was a bad habit I’d developed, something I had to figure out on my own. I carried so much shame around, thinking I was the only one dealing with it. For six years, I didn’t have a name for what was going on. I was desperate to get better and find a healthy way to eat, and finally I came across a book about language recovery that gave me what it gave me. That’s when the real healing began, and it took four years to fully recover.“Looking back, the actress admitted that she wishes she had understood her condition sooner, adding that sharing her experience publicly now is more important than her fear of vulnerability.“Now that I’m healed, I care deeply that if my story helps even one person feel less alone in theirs, that’s worth more than the discomfort of being vulnerable in public.”He also clarified that he does not hold anyone responsible for his struggle.“I don’t look back at any time or person with guilt. I look back at a young woman who didn’t yet have the tools to separate how she looked from who she was, in an environment that made that separation harder than it had to be.”Sana revealed that the biggest turning point in her recovery came when she started thinking about the life she wanted to build.“The real turning point came when my motivation for healing became bigger and I couldn’t imagine my future living with the disorder. I remember telling myself that if I got married, I would never enjoy a date with my husband if I was busy worrying about food. That if I ever had children, I never wanted to pass this on. If any of this was going to be my first, it should be my future.”According to the actor, imagining a healthier future motivated her to prioritize recovery over perfection.
Sana Saeed on body image and social pressure
Reflecting on the beauty standards she grew up with, Sana said the pressure to look a certain way extended far beyond the entertainment industry.“I remember being in college and noticing that all my friends around me were dieting, trying to lose weight, talking about their changing bodies. That was the size zero era when I was skinny, when there were ten different diets available on Google and everyone I knew was running on a treadmill.”He added that conversations about health and nutrition were largely absent during those years.“My world celebrated weight loss and nothing else, not how you felt, not if you starved yourself all day to look a certain way. I think the industry just amplifies something that many of us already carry.”
Sana Saeed on recovery and healing
Earlier this month, Sana also shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, revealing that she went years without knowing she was living with bulimia.“I didn’t know I had an eating disorder for years. Not because I didn’t suffer, but because I never heard the words. Growing up, no one talked about it. There was no language for what I was going through, so I carried it in silence and alone for a long time.”She ended her message by confirming that she has made a full recovery and encouraging others facing similar struggles to seek professional help.“I am fully recovered and have never felt more at home in my body or in my life. If you’re having trouble, reach out to someone you trust or find eating disorder support in your area. You deserve real help from someone qualified to give it.”
About Sana Saeed
Sana Saeed shot to fame as a child artist after portraying young Anjali, Shah Rukh Khanthe daughter of, in the 1998 blockbuster ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. She later appeared in films like ‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’ and ‘Badal’ before moving on to television with shows like ‘Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na’ and ‘Lo Ho Gayi Pooja Iss Ghar Ki’. She returned to the big screen as an adult in ‘Student of the Year’. Currently based in Los Angeles, Sana runs a production company with her fiance, Csaba Wagner.