Cancer Fighter

SONALI BENDRE
YODDHAS CSR
EVENT - II

ANKIT CHAUHAN
B-11
20020441039
This Story is about Sonali Bendre Behl, who was born on the 1st of January 1975. She is
an Indian actress and model who has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and
Marathi films. She has also received numerous honors, including a Filmfare Award.

She worked as a model and in a few television commercials as a teenager before making
her acting debut in 1994 with Aag. She rose to prominence in Hindi cinema as a leading
actress.

We had her on our television screen at some point when we were kids. As a child, I
admired her charisma, fashion, and acting abilities a lot. Although I appreciate all of
those things, it was an ordeal when I heard that she was diagnosed with cancer.
Nevertheless, I was most impressed by her courage, willpower, and strength, as well as
her refusal to let the word "cancer" define her life.

Sonali was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in July 2018 and spent the following
months undergoing treatment in New York. After nearly five months in the United
States, she returned to India in December 2018. Sonali survived the battle against
cancer and has spread hope and knowledge about the disease over the years to follow.

She had been open about her battle on social media for quite some time. Her journey
has not been easy. The actress admitted that the overwhelming response to her post
throughout her treatment gave her the strength she needed to fight cancer. During such
a discussion event held by the FICCI Flo Jaipur, she recently recounted how she
discovered her condition. She was filming Season 2 of India's Best Dramebaaz when she
learned of her illness and that she'd be away for an extended period, not just a week or
two, for treatment. She chose to inform the world about her condition rather than keep
it hidden from everyone and deny any reports about her absence from the programme
to eliminate the possibility of fake news. And it should not be stigmatized that would
make people sad or ashamed. Bendre's decision to post about her condition on social
media proved one of her most important. People from all walks of life began writing to
her about their experiences with the disease, realizing two things.

First is the realization that she is not alone and that the disease is widespread, and
second, there is a lot of strength and hope.

She said that social media is a platform that fosters debate and has the potential to
influence. She thought it was a great and enjoyable way to meet new people. One of the
things she's started to love and embrace is hashtags. A hashtag can convey a wealth of
information.

Her husband, Goldie Behl, accompanied her to New York shortly after she began her
treatment. The gravity of the situation became clear to her as she read the news. It is the
fourth stage, and she has a 30% chance of survival, as stated.
Sonali admitted that beginning treatment for the condition, which she claims is worse
than the illness itself, served as a wake-up call for her to start living for today rather than
tomorrow. The actress also explained that she did nothing out of the ordinary to gather
strength and bravery and that others could have done more.

When she started chemotherapy, it was a terrifying experience for her. Chemotherapy
drugs are highly effective and target cancer cells that proliferate rapidly, including hair
roots. The actress admitted that losing her hair was frightening and that confronting her
body was difficult. She did, however, come to terms with her new appearance.

Being diagnosed with a terminal illness really does have a psychological impact. Sonali
acknowledged that her initial reaction was to place blame on herself. People who have
been a regular part of Sonali's life were taken aback. Despite her healthy lifestyle and
positive outlook on life, she became ill while living a healthy lifestyle, leading her to
believe it was her fault.

She started seeing a therapist in New York, who educated her to relax and accept that
cancer is caused by genetic inheritance or a virus, not by her thoughts. After listening to
the psychologist's comments, Sonali no longer held herself accountable.

It has been more than two years, and Sonali has firmly established herself as a cancer-
fighting victor. She is living her life one day at a time, full of purpose and gratitude,
spreading cancer awareness through social media or personal anecdotes, and
participating in various conclaves and seminars across the country.