Cancer claims millions of lives every year and is the second leading cause of death globally. In this valiant battle, Bollywood celebrities are no exceptions. While a few were consumed by the fatal disease, many of them overcame it to emerge as survivors.
By: Devbrat Patnaik
Last updated: 10 Jun 2022, 10:45 AM IST
Nargis Dutt died of pancreatic cancer in 1981. This was a big blow to Sunil Dutt and Sanjay Dutt, as she passed away only three days before Sanjay made his debut in Bollywood with ‘Rocky’.
Irrfan Khan was suffering from neuroendocrine tumour which is a rare form of cancer, that developed from a colon infection. The disease eventually took his life in 2020.
One of the most celebrated actors in the Bollywood, Rishi Kapoor passed away in 2020 after a two-year-long battle with cancer.
Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2012. She has recently recuperated from the disease. She has discussed about her battle with cancer and recovery in an autobiography released in 2018.
Lisa Ray is another cancer survivor. An Indo-Canadian actress, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of cancer, in 2009. It again relapsed in 2012. Multiple myeloma is said to be an incurable disease, but sources say Lisa completed her treatment a year ago.
Another fighter is from the Khers. Kirron Kher, who is now seen as a judge in India’s Got Talent show, was in 2021 diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Her husband and veteran actor Anupam Kher assured fans that she will come out of this stronger than before.
Sonali Bendre has inspired many with her positive attitude and with the way she braved cancer. The actress was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2018 and underwent treatment in America and returned cancer-free later that year. Sonali is one of the judges in Dance India Dance Li'l Masters and also gearing up for her OTT debut.
Mahima Chaudhry was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She said she had no symptoms of cancer and it was diagnosed during routine check-up. During a conversation with Anupam Kher, Mahima broke down and asked Anupam if she can do his film with a wig.