Salman Khan Opens Up About 7.5-Year Battle with “Suicide Disease” Trigeminal Neuralgia: “Took 750 mg Painkillers, Underwent Nearly 8-Hour Gamma Knife Surgery”

Ziya Khan September 25, 2025Last Updated: September 25, 2025

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan made a heartfelt revelation on Prime Video’s chat show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, where he appeared alongside Aamir Khan. The 59-year-old actor spoke candidly about his prolonged struggle with trigeminal neuralgia, often dubbed the “suicide disease” due to its excruciating pain. His emotional account moved Kajol to tears.

Recalling his ordeal, Salman said, “You have to learn to live with it. Many people deal with bypass surgeries, heart problems, and more. When I had trigeminal neuralgia, the pain was unbearable. You wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy. I endured it for seven and a half years. The pain would hit every 4-5 minutes, coming suddenly—even while I was talking.”He shared how even eating became a challenge: “It took me about an hour and a half to finish my breakfast, and then I would go straight to dinner.

For something as simple as an omelet, I had to push through the pain since I couldn’t chew normally.”Initially, doctors suspected a dental problem. Salman revealed, “I was taking around 750 mg of painkillers, but they didn’t help much. When asked when the pain would ease, I said it got a bit better after a drink or two but would come back. That’s when they realized it was a nerve issue.”Salman traced the onset of symptoms back to the filming of Partner (2007). “Lara brushed a strand of hair from my face, and I felt a sharp jolt of pain. I joked, ‘Wow Lara, you’re electrifying!’ That’s when it started,” he recalled.

Discussing treatment, Salman highlighted the disease’s severity, saying, “This condition has the highest suicide rate. Many don’t even know about it. I’m speaking up because so many suffer from it. Today, it’s quite treatable. I underwent Gamma Knife Surgery, where they attach screws to your face and operate for nearly 8 hours. After surgery, I was told my pain would reduce by 20-30%. But by God’s grace, it disappeared completely.”Salman first disclosed his diagnosis in 2017 during promotions for his film Tubelight in Dubai. Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, causing intense facial pain triggered by everyday actions like chewing or brushing teeth.