Ashwin Mushran is an Indian actor and voice-over artist best known for his role in the Bollywood film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. He is currently facing a tough phase in his life after being hit by an unexpected health setback. The actor still chooses to smile, showcasing his strong mindset.
On October 7, 2026, Ashwin shared a selfie from his hospital bed, flashing a resilient smile, quipped, “I shouldn’t be smiling… But I am.”
Detailing the timeline of his illness, Ashwin revealed that his symptoms started unexpectedly on September 29 with mild chills, a fever, and an upset stomach:
“On September 29, I was feeling a little off. Fever, chills and a slightly squeamish stomach, so I went in for a blood test. Maybe dengue, maybe malaria… The results weren’t hugely off the charts, just a viral, and I didn’t think much of it. Half the people I know have been down with some bug.”
However, the situation took a dangerous turn the following evening. He shared, “On the 30th evening, the fever came back. I had uncontrollable shivers and started hyperventilating. My wife rushed me to the hospital and straight into emergency(She’s been an absolute Rock).”
The infection spread so rapidly that it temporarily impaired his speech, a terrifying experience for an artist who relies on his voice for his livelihood:
“My speech was slurred. I couldn’t get a coherent word out. I thought my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth because I was dehydrated. For someone who talks for a living, that was the scariest part.”
Speaking about his diagnosis and emergency surgery, he revealed, “One of the tests was creatinine – that number was off the charts, and they shifted me to the ICU. A CT scan the next morning showed a 10 mm stone in my left kidney, and I was diagnosed with Emphysematous Pyelonephritis (EPN). The sepsis from it had sent my body into shock. They did emergency surgery, cleared the infection, and I spent a week in hospital.”
The actor reflected on the fact that he experienced no early signs:
“The strange part? No pain. No kidney stone symptoms. Nothing. EPN mostly happens to diabetics, which I’m fortunately not.”
Reflecting on how close the situation came to a permanent tragedy, Ashwin expressed deep gratitude to his medical team and his wife:
“We got there just in time. Even a few hours later and the damage to the kidney would have been irreversible. So a huge thank you to my wife, who didn’t wait, and to the doctors and nurses who took it from there. Still have a couple of procedures left to do but feeling confident about them already.”
Now recovering safely at home, the actor is using social media to urge individuals—especially those over the age of 50—not to neglect their annual medical check-ups:
“We all think we’re infallible. These things happen to other people, not us. I’d been slack with my check-ups and learnt the lesson the hard way. You may feel like you’re in the best of health (I know I did)… but you never know what’s quietly working against you in the background. And if you’re over 50 like me… you ain’t no spring chicken. Go get that check-up. Don’t brush it off.”
Concluding his update on a lighter note, Ashwin shared that he is feeling much better especially because of his daughter’s letter:
“I’m back home now and feeling better, mostly because of the card my daughter made for me and maybe from being fussed over a teeny bit.”
He also added a humorous industry coincidence:
“Oh… and my surgeon’s name was Rakesh Roshan. Which I think is pretty cool.”
