Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi is going through a tough phase these days. The Jannat leading man`s four-year-old son, Ayaan, was recently diagnosed with first-stage cancer. Emraan left for Toronto with his wife Praveen and son to facilitate better treatment for the child. The actor will be back in Mumbai to shoot for his film Mr X, from February 16, informs uncle Mahesh Bhatt, also imparting the reassuring news that the four-year-old, diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his kidney, is responding well to treatment in Canada.
“We have consulted the best doctors for Ayaan’s treatment and luckily for us, his prognosis looks good. What not many of us are aware of is that, when it comes to children, 90 percent of cancer is curable. The treatment is regularised and Ayaan who is being given the mildest two-drug chemotherapy is doing well,” says Bhatt cheerfully.
On the recommendation of the doctors who performed an emergency surgery on Ayaan in Mumbai, the actor flew out with his son to Canada because the medical care for children there is reportedly the best in the world. Emraan’s wife Praveen, who has family there, will stay back in Toronto, Canada, with Ayaan. Emraan, however, will return after completing his film commitments in Mumbai.
“After the anguish we faced, we have reason to believe that the dark night is behind us and Ayaan will be back with us in four months if not before,” says Bhatt. What’s encouraging, he adds, is the way the film fraternity has come forward to stand by Emraan in his hour of need. “Akshay Kumar, who has Canadian citizenship, has called to offer his help. Our common friend, Ajay Virmani, who lives there, has also told us to call for anything we need. Strangers on the streets stop me to say that they are offering prayers for Ayaan,” says Bhatt.
“At a time when we hear only about bad things happening to people, it’s so heartening to see this ocean of goodness,” added Bhatt, reported Times of India.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2014.
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