Manisha Koiralawho has inspired many with her victorious battle against cancer, recently revealed that she reached out to the Princess of Wales, Kate Middletonto offer her heartfelt support as the royal undergoes cancer treatment. In an interview, Manisha shared that her letter to Kate was rooted in empathy, having herself battled ovarian cancer. And Kate’s warm response left a profound impact on the Heeramandi star.
“I wrote to the Princess [Kate Middleton] because I had gone through cancer and could resonate with her. I feel that when people, especially celebrities, lend their voices to this cause, it gives hope and encouragement to others who might feel isolated, scared, and fearful. It lets them know they are not alone,” Manisha told India Today.
Reflecting on her own cancer journey, Manisha shared that learning about other survivors, including Lisa Ray and Yuvraj Singh, helped her find resilience. She also explained how the experience had shifted her priorities to what truly matters in life – meaningful relationships, purposeful work, and gratitude. However, she also stressed the need for true empathy in offering support to others facing illness.
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“Sometimes people give advice without really understanding the pain. When I was diagnosed, I remember that 90% of the advice was useless. It came from a place of care, but only someone who has been through it, can fully understand. What I do now is say, ‘I’m on your side. I’m holding your hand, never letting go. Tell me how I can help you. Help me help you,’” she said.
On the work front, Manisha made her powerful comeback in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi, which also stars Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha among others.