Exclusive - Bigg Boss OTT 3 winner Sana Makbul on her traumatic dog bite accident; says 'The 'cupid bow' on my upper lips was completely ripped apart, for 9 months I sulked'

Sana Makbul, who was recently crowned the winner of Bigg Boss OTT season 3, is basking in the attention and limelight. In an exclusive interview with Times of India TV, the actress shared how she made the bold decision to quit Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon at its peak to compete in a beauty pageant. She also opened up about a traumatic dog bite accident that left the cupid's bow on her upper lip completely torn. Sana revealed that she spent nine months in despair following the accident, only to face another challenge afterwards when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. (Photo: Instagram)

I never had self-doubt moments. I think you start doubting yourself when you don’t know where you are going wrong. I always knew what I was doing. I did Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon and left its peak. I knew why I quit the show. My goal was something else. I wanted to go for Miss India. (Photo: Instagram)

Dalljiet Kaur was my co-star and she filled my form for the beauty pageant. She filled my form as I told her I wanted to do it, I have it in me, can you do it for me? She did it for me and spoke to the pageant team as well. She got me the test, next day, in fact, I left my shoot and went for the test. I did it because I wanted to do it then. Mera ye maanana hai apni pair utne he failao jitni aapki chadar hai.. this is what I have believed in throughout my journey. And since I knew where I wanted to go, I was fine with my setbacks and downfall. (Photo: Instagram)

I have the potential to pull it out in South Industry also. I did a few projects there but I never stayed there. If you have to work in that industry continuously, you have to stay there. People from different parts of India travel to Mumbai, stay here and then they get work. TV is a longer game. If your show is a success you don’t have to worry for the next 3/4 years. Film on the other hand has a schedule of 45-55 days.(Photo: Instagram)

I've done all that and Mera career Kabhi dooba nahi tha. If someone thinks that mera career dooba tha, I want to tell them that these were my choices. It was my journey where I did TV, then moved to the South and I did TV again. I never sat without work. I walked like a turtle but my career was never down. The fame and attention I’m getting today is what I’ve always wanted. I wanted this. (Photo: Instagram)

My health went for a toss. There was a phase in my life when I met with an accident. But again I took that phase positively. I faced that phase positively. For 9 months I sulked. Woh incident Mujhe andar he andar todd raha tha… For us actors our face is everything. My entire Cupid bow on my upper lips was completely ripped apart. I had the whole upper part completely covered in stitches. I have a photo of it and if I release that picture you will see how I was to how I am right now. (Photo: Instagram)

I literally had a skin loss and aaj bhi Meri body par Ek jagah scar hai. We took skin from my groin to patch it up on my lips. I have worked on myself for that one year. I gave that one year to heal myself and Uske baad I just looked up to God and said “Aapne he Mujhe Yahan daala hai ab aap he nikaloge Mujhe Yahan se.” And trust me it is much better now. (Photo: Instagram)

I handled that phase very positively, people who don’t know about the accident still call me pouty lips. It happened to me inside Bigg Boss also like Ranvir ji once said but when he got to know about the accident he apologised to me. When he learnt about my accident he behaved with me very nicely. I feel people should not judge a book by its cover. There are times when one person doesn't know about others struggles but they are very quick to make judgments. (Photo: Instagram)

I got fine and was feeling better after the recovery and surgery, one battle was over I was suddenly down with another battle. God knocked me down with another battle. I got diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. That was the moment I started loving myself. Maine apne aap se uss journey mein pyaar karna shuru kiya. Maine apne aap ko jaana, paaya and today I don’t care who thinks what about me. I know what I’m really like. (Photo: Instagram)