While some Bollywood celebs have been very guarded around their cancer diagnosis, others have been candid enough about their journey to inspire others to overcome the illness.
In the last week of June, Bigg Boss fame actress Hina Khan decided to go public about her personal health battle. Taking to her social media pages, the actor announced that she had been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
“Despite this challenging diagnosis, I want to reassure everyone that I am doing well. I am strong, determined, and fully committed to overcoming this disease. My treatment has already begun, and I am ready to do everything necessary to emerge from this even stronger,” she wrote in a heartfelt post that not only resonated with all the fans but probably gave hope and strength to all those battling the same medical condition.
As Khan continues to garner much-needed support from beyond her fanbase, there are many actors in the past who have been vocal, public and transparent about their journey of overcoming cancer.
Those who hid
Among those who have been hush-hush about their medical condition is actor Rishi Kapoor, who in 2019 announced through a very cryptic post, “I am taking a short leave of absence from work to go to America for some medical treatment.
I urge my well-wishers not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. It’s been 45 years plus of wear and tear at the movies. With your love and good wishes, I will be back soon.”
He wrote further giving rise to speculations around his visit. The rumours surrounding his health or the visit never died down.
A few months down the line, Kapoor was spotted in a brand new white wig, giving rise to speculations that it was for a new script or a movie role.
Those who shared
Among the Indian actors, who have been very forthcoming about their diagnosis, is actress Sonali Bendre. In 2018, in a lengthy and heartfelt post, the actress wrote that,” Sometimes when you least expect it, life throws a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high-grade cancer that has metastasized. A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis.”
Educating her fans, she added, “There is no better way to tackle this than to take swift and immediate action. As advised by my doctors, I am currently undergoing a course of treatment in New York. We remain optimistic and I am determined to fight every step of the way.”
Actor Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. The actor has been among the few sharing wigless pics of herself at different points in time, and also speaking about the illness and the need for awareness.
The actress penned her ordeal with the disease and emerging victorious in her book, Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life.
Story of struggle and triumph
Among other actors who took on the disease head-on, has been actor Lisa Ray. She has been extremely candid about her battle with the disease ever since she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2009. However, even for a survivor, a cancer relapse is not easy to battle.
The actress revealed during a talk show that she hid her relapse from her husband which happened within a month of her wedding in 2012. “That was a really difficult time.
I was hiding that secret from my husband. I thought I just have to get through the wedding and then will figure out what to do.” Luckily for her, diet and lifestyle changes worked.
“So right after that I started incorporating a lot of nutrition and holistic healing. Ironically, within three months of changing my diet radically, I was in remission.”
In September 2018, Ray was blessed with two daughters. Among those who beat the odds is Bendra, whom the doctors once told, “that she had a thirty per cent chance of surviving and that cancer had spread like a Christmas tree in her body.”
Perhaps one of the most unexpected cancer diagnoses in Bollywood happened to be that of actor Emraan Hashmi’s son Ayaan, who was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer in 2014, at the age of three.
In a throwback interview, the actor spoke about his son being diagnosed as, “the profound and deeply devastating.”
The actor also shared how the whole process is, “psychologically disturbing.” “While researching about the disease, I came to know that nutrition plays an important role in the treatment as the body needs a strong immune system while going through the treatment.”
After a five-year-long battle, Ayaan was declared cancer-free in 2019.
The actor poured his experiences into a book The Kiss of Life: How a Superhero and My Son Defeated Cancer. The book talks of Hashmi’s experience as a father and also how his little displayed faith and resilience, at the age of three.
Ayaan drew psychological inspiration from his favourite superheroes, thereby exemplifying how hope and belief are powerful allies in this battle.
Follow us
