Ashhar Alam/New Delhi

Actor Pooja Bhatt has opened up about the physical and emotional challenges she faced during her stint on Bigg Boss OTT Season 2, revealing that she experienced menopause symptoms and underwent a cancer scare while inside the reality show's house.

Speaking on Cyrus Broacha's podcast, Bhatt recalled that she experienced her first hot flash just days before entering the show. The actor said the experience came as a surprise, especially after portraying a woman going through menopause in the web series Bombay Begums.

Despite having second thoughts about participating in the reality show, she decided to continue. During her stay in the house, she said frequent hot flashes became difficult to manage, particularly at night when the air conditioning was turned off for certain periods.

Bhatt also revealed that she discovered a lump in her breast during the second week of the competition. Initially believing it could be a temporary hormonal change or an insect bite, she chose not to panic and monitored the condition.

As the lump persisted into the following week, the possibility of a serious illness crossed her mind. She admitted that the uncertainty became even more stressful after the show's duration was extended, prompting her to seek medical attention.

According to Bhatt, she eventually consulted a doctor, who recommended immediate breast imaging. She underwent medical tests, including a mammography and sonography, which confirmed that the lump was not cancerous.

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Relieved by the diagnosis, the actor returned to the Bigg Boss OTT 2 house with renewed confidence and completed her journey on the show. Reflecting on the incident, she said the episode was likely linked to stress or a temporary skin condition rather than a serious medical issue.

Bhatt emerged as one of the finalists of Bigg Boss OTT Season 2, earning praise from host Salman Khan for her performance during the season.