Bengaluru: Actress Sonali Bendre who underwent treatment for metastatic cancer in New York last December, heaped praise on her colleague, actress Manisha Koirala, saying that she has been a big help in her crusade against the disease.
Taking part in an interactive session organised by FICCI FLO, Bangalore Chapter, on Wednesday, Sonali said, “Manisha has been a big help. She has been through it and is a survivor. She has also written a lovely book about it.” In 2012, Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent treatment and was declared cancer-free by mid-2014.
When if she had received tips from celebrities like Yuvraj Singh and Manisha to fight cancer, Sonali said, “I haven’t met Yuvraj. I met his mother, though, and she was very warm and kind.”
Indian cricket player Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left lung in 2011. He underwent chemotherapy treatment in Boston and Indianapolis and in March 2012 was discharged from the hospital.
Sonali said a lot of help and advice came from non-celebrities and that she valued them very much. Talking about her husband, she said, “Goldie has been my rock and pillar of strength to help me fight cancer. Thank God, I decided to get married to him.”
“My mother always told me that human being matters more. Of course, there are times when you realise material things are also important, which gets you the treatment in the US, but even that cannot give you the joy the family gives and sees you through it. That is the most important thing,” she said.