‘I thought I would die, my spirit helped me recover’, says nurse-turned-actor Shikha Malhotra

Shikha Malhotra as a COVID warrior

Right after the COVID lockdown hit on March 25, 2020, nurse-turned-actor Shikha Malhotra stepped out with her nursing degree and testimonials. She felt she had to heed the clarion call to medics to be on the frontline. The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale - one more reason for Malhotra to prove the role of nurses in supporting patients.

Malhotra herself got infected and later, suffered a stroke, which led to long bouts in the hospital. But she remained undeterred. "I am a fighter. Every time I face a roadblock in life, I make it a stepping stone to walk ahead."

Malhotra's last Bollywood outing was Kaanchli: Life in a Slough (2020), co-starring Sanjay Mishra. She played a TV anchor in the Shah Rukh-starrer Fan (2016). She remembers the superstar asking her how she managed to learn long-winding dialogues and say them in one go when even after all these years, he fumbles. Malhotra was also seen in Running Shaadi (2017) in which she played Taapsee Pannu's friend.

The Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East was made a COVID facility. "They were in need of nurses and doctors. I said I don't want a salary, just let me serve," says Malhotra. "I had to do the rounds of several hospitals in the city till I landed this offer. I was on duty for over seven months."

Her first patient was a child. "He was seven months old, I treated him for 26 days. My oldest patient was 98 years old. I saw life and death; joy and gloom. I also did the last rites of a patient with his only daughter; we spent the night at the cremation ground. They say humanity is the only religion. It's true, it's so important to support and be nice to each other."

Malhotra has a degree in nursing from the Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College, which is attached to Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi. As part of her training, she practised for four years. "But it was my childhood dream to be an artiste. I am a trained classical singer and kathak dancer. I also have a diploma from the Barry John
Acting Studio."

On October 2, Malhotra tested positive for COVID. "From a Corona warrior, I became a Corona patient. My oxygen levels were alarmingly low. It took me over a month to recover."

On December 10, she suffered a stroke, triggered by the virus' side-effects. She was initially admitted to Cooper hospital and later at KEM Hospital. "My right side was paralysed. I thought I would never be able to walk again or die, but my spirit made me overcome it," says Malhotra, who was felicitated at Raj Bhavan by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari with the Corona Yodha Samman and by the Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital.

Her efforts were also lauded by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and actors Katrina Kaif, Shatrughan Sinha and Sonu Sood on social media. "These, too, are my awards," says Malhotra.