Actress Sonali Bendre Begins Treatment for Metastatic Cancer in NYC

Earlier this month, Hindi film actress Sonali Bendre began a battle for her life. On July 4th, via Twitter, Bendre shared with the world that she was recently diagnosed with a metastatic “high-grade” cancer.

Metastatic cancer is also referred to as stage 4 cancer, the most serious of the diagnoses. At this stage, the cancerous cells separate from the main tumor site and travel to other parts of the body through the lymph system or bloodstream.

[Read Related: Poem: ‘Dear Metastatic Cancer’]

Upon her announcement, industry colleagues and friends took to social media to lend their support as the 43-year-old actress began treatment at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

https://twitter.com/karanjohar/status/1014408732707643392

https://twitter.com/geneliad/status/1014509652133007360

Fans also provided an outpouring of love and support:

https://twitter.com/FaminaFarooq/status/1016660757919027200

Among these messages from fans and celebs alike, one that felt most profound was a tweet from actress Manisha Koirala, who had her own struggle with ovarian cancer starting in 2012, was also treated in New York and has now been cancer-free for about 5 years.

Sonali Bendre wrote in a more recent Twitter post that sharing her cancer journey is a way of coping with her reality and that she hopes to spread her positive attitude — or #SwitchOnTheSunshine as she called it — in the face of this sudden and unexpected adversity:

“I can only hope it reminds you that all is not lost and that someone, somewhere understand what you’re going through.”

In just a mere few days, Sonali Bendre has become one of the most inspirational voices from the Hindi film industry on Twitter.

In preparation for chemo treatments, due to which patients can shed large amounts of hair, she traded in her long luscious locks for a sassy pixie cut. In a short montage of video clips and photos of her hair transformation, the varying emotions with which Bendre is inevitably struggling can be seen, from her overwhelmed tears to her bittersweet smile, as she takes in her new look.

Before working as an actress, Sonali Bendre was a model. In 1994, she debuted in the Hindi film “Aag.” Throughout her career, she has also been a part of Telugu, Marathi and Kannada films. She is most recognized for her roles in films from the late ‘90s, including “Duplicate,” “Hum Saath Saath Hain” and “Sarfarosh.”

[Read Related: Bollywood Throwback: Looking Back at ‘Duplicate,’ 20 Years Later]

In 2002, she married director Goldie Behl, with whom she has one son, Ranveer. After taking a break from on-screen work upon the birth of her son in 2005, Bendre reassumed her position in front of the camera in 2013 with the film “Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara!” and as the lead in the 2014 TV serial “Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye.” She also published her first book, titled “The Modern Gurukul: My Experiments With Parenting,” in 2014.

All of us at Brown Girl Magazine would like to wish Ms. Bendre strength, patience and courage throughout this emotionally and physically grueling fight. Thank you for using your platform to spread your light, and we hope that your positive outlook during this time proves to be your greatest weapon.

By Gabrielle Deonath

Gabrielle Deonath is a New York-based writer and content creator with a passion for storytelling. Through her work, she hopes … Read more ›