South Indian actress Shakeela undergoes neck surgery after excessive phone use

South Indian actress Shakeela has revealed that her excessive use of mobile phones left her with a serious neck problem

South Indian actress Shakeela has revealed that her excessive use of mobile phones left her with a serious neck problem that eventually required surgery costing around Rs300,000 Indian rupees. The 53-year-old actress shared her experience in a video posted on her YouTube channel and urged people, especially parents, to limit unnecessary mobile phone use.

Shakeela, who has worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films, said her habit of playing games and watching videos on her phone for several hours caused significant damage to her neck. She explained that she would often lie on her side in bed for long periods while using her phone.

“I used to play games on my phone continuously for four hours while lying on my side in bed,” Shakeela said. She added that she would only get up occasionally to have tea or coffee before returning to her phone. After playing games, she would spend hours watching reels on YouTube and Instagram.

According to the actress, maintaining an incorrect posture while using her phone, combined with prolonged screen time, affected important blood vessels in her neck and eventually led to serious health complications. She underwent surgery in Chennai and said that a titanium screw was also used during the procedure.

After returning home, doctors advised Shakeela to wear a neck collar until she recovered. She said that following the surgery, she has needed assistance even with basic activities such as getting out of bed and eating.

Shakeela stressed that mobile phones are useful devices when used responsibly, but excessive use can have serious consequences. She advised people not to spend unnecessary hours watching videos or playing games, even if the content is entertaining.

She also issued a warning to parents, urging them to avoid giving mobile phones to children unnecessarily. According to her, children should use phones only for essential activities and educational or useful content rather than spending long periods watching short videos and playing games.

The actress said that people could end up paying a heavy financial and physical price for excessive phone use, adding that her own experience had cost her around Rs300,000 and caused considerable pain and difficulty.

Shakeela Begum was born in Chennai. Her mother, Chand Bee, was from Andhra Pradesh, while her father, Chand Basha, was from Tamil Nadu. She began her acting career with a Tamil film in 1995. However, she gained widespread recognition after appearing in the Malayalam film Kinnarathumbikal, released in 2000.

Over the years, Shakeela became a well-known name in South Indian cinema, particularly for her work in Malayalam films. Her latest health experience has now prompted her to use her public platform to raise awareness about responsible mobile phone use and the potential health risks associated with prolonged screen time and poor posture.