KATHMANDU: Manisha Koirala has always been the girl-next-door and with her innocent face, she has a special place in the audience’s hearts. With movies such as 1942: A Love Story, Dil Se, Bombay and Akele Hum Akele Tum to her name, she proved her acting prowess. And when she was diagnosed with cancer, her fans were saddened. After getting treatment, this cancer survivor has now decided to give back to her devoted fans who prayed for her health — she is back to show the world that a disease like cancer doesn’t necessarily bring death.
At a two-day international cancer conference in Kathmandu, Manisha announced that she will return to films after December. “I will get some rest till then,” she said. This was her first public appearance after recovering from the disease.
“I am an artist and so, I love acting. Many offers are coming my way. And I want to be back in cinema — this is my priority right now,” she added. “If a good script on cancer comes, I will definitely work on it.”
Clad in a red dress and short hair, the 43-year-old actor shared how she battled cancer and how it should be dealt with. “Many people often say that I am a cancer survivor. But I am a cancer crusader. I successfully battled cancer,” she said. “Cancer does not bring death and everyone needs to be told that it doesn’t.”
Manisha plans to actively involve herself in cancer awareness programmes and feels that people need to be well-educated regarding such diseases. “Health is ultimately a big thing — this is something I realised when I was in bed during my treatment,” she added.
She wants to inspire others just like Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh — another cancer survivor — ended up giving her courage to fight the battle. “Yuvraj has been a source of inspiration for many and me too. He is a great player who battled cancer,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2013.
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