Mumbai, November 19, 2025 – In an astonishing display of fortitude, Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen, 49, shocked doctors and fans alike by choosing to remain conscious throughout a recent heart procedure following a severe heart attack. The incident, which occurred in February 2023 while she was filming the third season of her web series "Aarya" in Jaipur, involved a 95% blockage in a major artery. Sen's decision to forgo anesthesia during the angioplasty has been met with both amazement and admiration.
Sen revealed her reasoning in a recent interview with Divya Jain, stating that she dislikes losing consciousness and wanted to maintain control during the procedure. "The control freak in me doesn't like losing consciousness," she said. "It's also the reason why I survived the heart attack, because it was a choice between suffering it and staying conscious and losing consciousness and sleeping, then not waking up". She was clear about not wanting the pain numbed and wanting to see what was happening.
Dr. Parin Sangoi, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, confirmed that most heart procedures like angioplasty or stent placements are performed while the patient is awake. Light sedation is typically administered to keep patients calm and relaxed, and it is generally considered safe to keep the patient conscious since the procedure uses local anesthesia around the insertion site and doesn't require deep anesthesia.
Throughout the procedure, Sen reportedly kept chatting with the doctors, even urging them to hurry as her "Aarya" crew was waiting for her in Jaipur. This highlights Sen's strong sense of responsibility towards her team, as she was aware that the livelihoods of many daily wage workers depended on the shoot. "When you headline a show, you take on the responsibility of a 500-member crew," she explained.
Despite the severity of her condition and the major procedure, Sen exhibited remarkable resilience, returning to the set of "Aarya" within just 15 days. She negotiated with her doctors to get back to filming, displaying her determination and commitment. Her team had tried to persuade her to rest, but it took over two weeks of discussions before she was allowed to return to continue filming the series.
Sen's experience has given her a new perspective on life, making her realize how transient everything is. "When you suffer a heart attack and you are conscious through it, you kind of know how close you came to being on the other side of life," she reflected. "Once you cross that, you also know how far behind it is now". She has become even more determined to keep going, balancing her professional life, her brand, and her responsibilities as a single mother.
Sushmita Sen's courageous decision and speedy recovery serve as an inspiration to many. "Aarya" Season 3 premiered on Jio Hotstar in November 2023, with the second segment arriving in February 2024. Sen's ability to turn a crisis into a comeback underscores her strength, leadership, and unwavering dedication.
