Sudha Chandran recalls losing her leg in an accident at 16; says, “I have lived more of my life with my prosthetic leg than with my original leg”

Sudha Chandran, who has featured in several films and television shows, faced a major tragedy during her teenage years when she lost her leg in a road accident. However, she did not lose hope and overcame that difficult phase. She recently spoke to Siddharth Kannan about the accident, her life after losing her leg, and more. (Photo: Instagram)

I told my father that since my exams were over, we should plan a trip to South India. He agreed. I suggested we visit Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty, then Chennai, and finally Trichy. But he said we would begin with Trichy instead. We first went to Chennai, where my aunt was staying. From there, we visited Vailur. While we were returning, we met with an accident. After that incident, I asked my grandmother only one thing. I said, “You keep chanting Murugan’s name, and we were coming back from the temple — then why did this happen?” (Photo: Instagram)

My grandmother told me she wouldn’t answer that question right then. She just said, “Remember this — whatever has happened, you will receive something a hundred times bigger in your life.“I was upset and told her not to console me like that or say things just to make me feel better.” I was very depressed at that time. I was just stepping into my teenage years, a phase when you have big dreams and feel ready to fly. I had so many aspirations and wanted to do a lot in life. My father wanted me to become an IFS officer, and after completing my 12th grade, I was preparing to begin my studies for it. But suddenly, everything changed. (Photo: Instagram)

Over the next three years, something significant happened. Dr. Sethi received recognition for the Jaipur Foot. I truly believe that sometimes life unfolds the way it is meant to. After that, I travelled to Jaipur. I met the doctor, and when I reached there, I saw people walking confidently with the Jaipur Foot. They were not helpless — they were moving on with their lives. But my biggest concern was different. Walking was one thing, but what about dancing? My parents had devoted their entire lives to my dream of becoming a dancer. How would I ever get that back? (Photo: Instagram)

When I returned to Mumbai with the Jaipur Foot, I decided to start dancing again. It took me three long years. Today, saying “three years” sounds simple, but if you count 365 days multiplied by three — every hour, every minute, every second — you can imagine the pain and effort involved. My mother, my Guruji, and my physiotherapist witnessed that struggle closely. Only my father was unaware of how much I was going through during that time. (Photo: Instagram)

My father had no idea that I had started dancing again. Whenever he left for work, we would quietly shut the door and begin practicing. After three years, I finally told him that I was going to perform. He was shocked and asked, “When did all this happen?” He said we hadn’t told him because he tends to share things openly, and we were afraid the news would spread before I was truly ready. When the time finally came, she said, “She is ready. Don’t shake her confidence.” And then I danced. That moment became the turning point of my life. (Photo: Instagram)

More than my original leg, I love my Jaipur Foot. It stood by me during the worst phase of my life. Even today, whenever I wear it and step out of the house, I silently tell it, “Protect my dignity.” It has never let me down. Over the years, many new prosthetic designs have come up. People have often approached me on stage and said, “Sudha ji, please try our new model.” But I have always replied that my loyalty lies with the Jaipur Foot — now and forever. It has become a part of me. In fact, I feel I have lived more of my life with it than with my original leg. (Photo: Instagram)

People may call it just an object, but when you speak to it, care for it, and truly accept it, it becomes like your own limb. When people ask how I perform so effortlessly, I tell them it is because I love my Jaipur Foot deeply. My dreams, my ambitions, my entire journey are connected to it. That is why I believe it will never fail me. It was only much later that I truly understood the reality — that I had lost my leg. And that realization was incredibly powerful. (Photo: Instagram)

I had already cried the day it was announced that my leg would be amputated. After that, I never cried again. I became completely numb. I knew that if I broke down, my parents would fall apart too. So for their sake, I held back my tears. At that time, I had turned to stone. My mother would often ask me if I was in pain, and I would always say no. Even today, people ask me the same question: “Does it hurt?” And I still say no. Truly, it doesn’t. Recently, when I performed at an event in Thane, many people asked me, “Sudha ji, don’t you ever feel pain?” I told them no. Whether they believe it or not, it doesn’t hurt anymore. Sometimes I feel that when you go through so much pain in life, it becomes a part of you. And once that happens, you stop feeling it the same way. (Photo: Instagram)