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Journalism of Courage
Actor Tanishaa Mukerji, who made her Hindi film debut with Sssshhh… in 2003, recently revealed that she suffered a serious head injury on set that changed her life for more than a year.
Speaking to Vickey Lalwani, she recalled travelling with co-stars Dino Morea, Gaurav Kapur, and director Pavan S Kaul when their car skidded off black ice and fell into a gorge. “My director was driving the car. It was a good film. We were enjoying a lot. Dino Morea, me and Gaurav Kapur, were all inside the car. We all thought we would go to work together that day. The director was driving the car, and he slid on black ice, and our car stumbled into a gorge. Gaurav had fractures in three places in his arm. Dino also had a fracture (sic).”
Tanishaa herself sustained the most alarming injury. “I suffered from a head injury, which was very dangerous; I had a concussion. So the doctor told me, my brain had shifted to the side of my scalp and then came back to its place, and that’s why the left or maybe the right hemisphere of my brain was swollen. It took more than one year for it to get better, but I had to finish this film and other films (sic).”
The experience also came with memory loss, something she described as almost cinematic. “After this accident, I lost my memory. We see in films that characters get up after an injury and ask, ‘Who are you?’ I was that person. My mom was with me in Manali, where the shooting was going on, and we had to come to Delhi for treatment.”
Dr Shiva Kumar R, senior neurologist, Poorna Neuro Holistic Care & Manipal Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, tells indianexpress.com, “When someone sustains a concussion or a head injury, the brain can move suddenly inside the skull due to impact. This rapid movement causes stretching of brain tissue and temporary disruption of nerve cell communication. In severe cases, the brain can strike against the inner walls of the skull, leading to swelling or small bleeds.”
He adds, “The phrase ‘brain shifted to the side’ is a layman’s description of this internal movement. While most concussions are mild and reversible, any swelling in one hemisphere can become dangerous because it increases pressure inside the skull. If not managed properly, it may lead to complications such as prolonged symptoms, neurological deficits, or, in rare cases, life-threatening situations.”
Memory loss is one of the hallmark symptoms of a concussion and is fairly common. Dr Shiva Kumar states that it usually occurs because the brain’s ability to process and store new information is temporarily disrupted by the injury. In most cases, this memory loss is short-term, lasting from minutes to weeks. “Whether it becomes long-lasting depends on several factors: the severity of the injury, whether there were repeated head injuries, the age and overall health of the patient, and how quickly treatment and rest were initiated.”
Recovery from head injuries requires both medical supervision and lifestyle modifications, states Dr Shiva Kumar.
“Initially, doctors advise complete rest to allow the brain to recover from the trauma. This includes physical rest and also limiting mental strain, such as long screen time or multitasking. Rehabilitation may involve physiotherapy for balance, occupational therapy for daily skills, or cognitive therapy to strengthen memory and concentration. Adequate sleep, hydration, balanced nutrition, and stress management also play a critical role in healing. Most importantly, avoiding another head injury during the recovery phase is essential, since repeated concussions can cause long-term cognitive issues,” notes the expert.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
