SRK Plays a Dwarf in ‘Zero’: How Much Do You Know About Dwarfism?

Short height as a result of dwarfism in no way implies stunted mental development or an unusual life span.

(Photo: Saumya Pankaj/FIT)

Ahead of the trailer launch of birthday boy Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film Zero, here’s a reminder that the riding factor of the film, more than the star cast, is the fact that SRK is playing a dwarf in it.

The title announcement of the movie which will also star Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif alongside SRK was enough to send fans into a frenzy. It showed a short statured dancing to an upbeat pop song.

In case, you’re not familiar with the specifics of the condition, here’s quick breakdown.

Also Read: No Empathy, Few Jobs: Life’s No Fairy Tale for This Dwarf Family

What is Dwarfism?

Dwarfism refers to a person with short stature as a result of a medical condition which could be genetic. It is determined by a height of less than about 4 feet (4 feet and 10 inches or 147 centimetres) in an adult. Short height in no way however implies stunted mental development or an unusual life span.

It is a condition which affects one in 25,000 people. Dr Krishan Chugh, Director and HOD, Paediatric and PICU, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, further comments that there is no national level data available for dwarfism. It’s not very common in the country, but it’s not rare either, he adds.

Broad Categories of Dwarfism

Depending on the proportion between the limbs and the torso, dwarfism can be of two kinds.

Disproportionate Dwarfism: When some parts of the body are small but others are of average or above average size. The cause of this are predominantly bone disorders.

Proportionate Dwarfism: This is marked by a body where limbs and torso are all proportionate like an average sized body.

What Are the Causes?

Over 200 conditions, from metabolic to hormonal, can cause dwarfism. The most common types are genetic. However, this does not imply that the children of a dwarf or dwarfs will be short-statured too.

If both parents are dwarfs, there is only a 50 percent chance of their child being a dwarf as well.

Dr Krishan Chugh, Fortis Memorial Research Institute

The first signs of disproportionate dwarfism appear as early as birth or in early infancy. However, proportionate dwarfism might not be immediately visible. It’s important to consult a doctor regularly regarding the presence of dwarfism in a child.

Because most case of dwarfism are caused by genetics, it is impossible to prevent them currently. Though genetic testing can help to identify the anomalies that cause it, yet there is no way to have a hundred percent certainty whether an infant would be born with it.