Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has always been candid about his life, both on and off-screen. Recently, on the talk show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, he revealed a shocking personal struggle with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain disorder that affects the nerves in the face. The 59-year-old actor shared that he first felt the excruciating pain back in 2007, on the set of his film Partner, while working alongside co-star Lara Dutta. During his appearance on the talk show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, Salman recalled,
“I was doing Partner. Lara was there. She removed a strand of hair on my face and I felt pain. I joked that ‘Wow Lara, you’re electrifying!’ That’s when it started.”
Daily Life Turned Into A Struggle
Salman Khan went on to describe how the condition made everyday life difficult. He added,
“You’ve got to live with it. There are a lot of people living with bypass surgeries, heart conditions, and many more. When I had trigeminal neuralgia, that pain used to be… You would not want your biggest enemy to have that pain.”
He revealed that the pain lasted for seven-and-a-half years, striking every four to five minutes. Even simple activities like eating became a challenge. Salman explained
“It would happen suddenly, while talking… It used to take me about an hour and a half to have my breakfast, and I used to go straight to dinner. For an omelette, because I couldn’t chew it, I had to force myself, hurt myself, take as much pain, so I could get rid of the meal.”
At first, people assumed it was a dental issue. However, doctors later confirmed that it was trigeminal neuralgia, not related to his teeth. To cope, Salman took 750 mg of painkillers daily, and he noted that the pain would reduce slightly if he had “a drink or two.”
Working Despite Chronic Pain
Salman Khan has always been a fighter. He previously discussed his pain on The Great Indian Kapil Show (Season 3). He said:
“Hum ye jo daily ki haddiyan tudwa rahe hain, pasliyan toot gai, trigeminal neuralgia ke sath kaam kar rahe hain, aneurysm hai brain mein uske bawajood kaam kar rahe hain. AV malformation hai, uske bawajood chal rahe hain. (I’m out here breaking my bones every day. Ribs are fractured, I’m working despite trigeminal neuralgia. There’s an aneurysm in the brain, I’m still working. There’s also an AV malformation, and still, I’m carrying on).”
His determination to continue working despite severe pain is a testament to his resilience and dedication to his craft.
What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
According to Mayo Clinic, trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder that causes sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain in the face. It occurs due to irritation or compression of the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory signals from the face to the brain. Common triggers include:
- Light touch on the face
- Brushing teeth
- Eating
- Even a gentle breeze
Attacks can occur multiple times a day, making it one of the most painful conditions a person can experience.
Salman Khan’s revelation about trigeminal neuralgia sheds light on the invisible struggles celebrities face. While fans see his larger-than-life persona on-screen, they rarely realize the pain he has endured off-screen.
From a hair strand triggering the first shock of pain to living with it for years, Salman Khan’s story is one of resilience, strength, and determination. Despite chronic pain, he continues to entertain millions, proving that true dedication knows no bounds.
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