Overview

• Ahmed described his body "giving up" during the 2015–2016 shoot, citing extreme exhaustion and a short hospital stay.
• He said the cause was unclear and that he was not recovering quickly, calling it "something very silent and very intense."
• The actor recalled rebuilding his strength "from scratch" and questioning whether he would get his life back.
• He linked the experience to deep feelings of fear and grief alongside a renewed sense of gratitude and acceptance.
• Ahmed shared the account on the Podcrushed podcast hosted by Penn Badgley, noting no diagnosis and saying the ordeal drew him to lead Sound of Metal, which later brought him an Oscar nomination.