Cancer news from the showbiz world has been pouring in like anything. Right from Irrfan Khan, Sonali Bendre, to Rishi Kapoor also, many celebs are becoming prey to cancer and it’s disheartening to listen to such news. One amongst such sad news came from veteran actress, Nafisa Ali Sodhi. For the ones who don’t know, Nafisa is a senior actress who has worked in films namely, Junoon (1979), Major Saab (1998), Life... In A Metro (2008) and Guzaarish (2011). She was last seen in 2018's Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3. (You May Also Like: Siddharth Roy Kapur Planned A Birthday Surprise For Vidya Balan And She Loved It Like Crazy [VIDEO])
On November 17, 2018, Nafisa announced that she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. She shared a picture with her "precious friend' Congress's Sonia Gandhi and wrote in the caption, “Just met my precious friend who wished me luck & to get well from my just diagnosed stage 3 cancer”. Here’s the snap that she shared, revealing her cancer news:
Amidst fighting against cancer, the veteran actress welcomed 2019 as she vacationed in Goa with her family. She shared one picture on her official Instagram handle from Goa and wrote this as a caption, “I love the shade from a coconut tree”. Wishing New Year to her Instagram family, she shared another snap from the vacation and wrote, “Wishing you a glorious 2019 filled with happiness and great health”. To another, she captioned, “I have run away to Goa with my entire family. My daughter Armana & Son in Law Adil have built me a special wooden hut to recoup. I am loving it. The sea, blue sky, the breeze and sand beneath my feet”. Here are her pictures from the Goa vacation:
In an interview with Femina, Nafisa shared about her childhood and was quoted as saying, “I had an idyllic childhood in Kolkata. We used to stay in a lovely colonial bungalow on Jhowtala Road. I learnt swimming when I was very young. I used to be called the ‘sizzling water baby’ in those days because I would win all the swimming championships.” Revealing that her father didn’t want her to act in films, Nafisa said, “My father did not want me to act, but because I had just turned 21, he told me to make my own decision. So I took the chance and moved to Bombay.” She further added, “I regret listening to my father. I should have never listened to him regarding my journey in cinema. Cinema is so empowering, stimulating, and exciting… You can be anything you want to be; that is the greatness of cinema”. (You May Also Like: Sushmita Sen Posts A Beautiful Wish For 'Rooh' Rohman Shawl On His Birthday, Showers Him With Kisses)
She also shared that taking care of HIV patients is close to her heart, the veteran actress remarked, “When I started working for people with HIV/AIDS in 1994, nobody really cared or did anything about it. I decided that I would make a documentary on the subject and I went to a home for HIV patients in Delhi for research. The condition of the patients I saw there disturbed me and hurt me to my core. So, I went to then chief minister Sheila Dikshit and told her that I did not have money, but I wanted to care for HIV patients and needed a place to do this. She trusted me and gave me the go-ahead. I opened my own HIV/AIDS care home called Ashraya in Rajokri Village, Delhi, with Action India, and ran it for eight years.” (Also Read: Late Kader Khan's Son Slams Govinda On His 'Father Figure' Comment, Says He Didn't Even Call Us)
In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actress politician said: "My children are the reason for me to overcome the cancer. My daughter is three months pregnant, she's due in the first week of June. I have to get better by then in time to welcome my third grandchild." She also said, "Now, Pickles (husband Colonel RS Sodhi) brings me my medicines and makes sure I take them. He is 75 and shattered by the diagnosis, but my family is rallying around me. I tell them now that the reason for my bloated tummy was all the fluid that had accumulated inside. The doctors tell me I will lose weight so there's something good coming out of all this." Talking about her illness, she also stated, "I didn't know people cared for me so much. And I am glad I put out the news as it may help others to know more about the illness".
Nafisa Ali, positive vibes are coming through your Goa pictures, and we are loving the way you are battling with the disease. We wish you a speedy recovery!