Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, a luminary of Indian cinema, quietly faced a health challenge in 2023 when she was diagnosed with stage zero lung cancer. Her daughter, actress Soha Ali Khan, recently shared insights into this period during an interview with Nayandeep Rakshit.
Soha revealed that her mother’s cancer was detected at an exceptionally early stage, eliminating the need for chemotherapy. “With my mother, she was one of the very few people to be diagnosed with lung cancer at stage zero, and no chemotherapy, nothing. It was cut out of her, and she is, touchwood, fine,” she stated.
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The public first became aware of Sharmila Tagore’s health battle during her appearance on the talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’ in 2023, where she appeared alongside her son, Saif Ali Khan. During the show, host Karan Johar mentioned that he had initially approached Sharmila for a role in his film ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,’ which was later played by Shabana Azmi. Sharmila declined the role due to health concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “It was at the height of COVID. They hadn’t really grappled with it at that time, we were not vaccinated. After my cancer… they didn’t want me to take that risk.”
Despite this health scare, Sharmila Tagore made a successful return to the screen with the film ‘Gulmohar’ in 2023, co-starring Manoj Bajpayee. The film received critical acclaim and won three National Awards, including Best Feature Film in Hindi and Best Screenplay (Dialogues).
Soha Ali Khan also touched upon recent challenges faced by the family, including an incident involving her brother, Saif Ali Khan, who was attacked but has since recovered well post-surgery.
Sharmila Tagore’s experience underscores the importance of early detection in cancer treatment and serves as an inspiration for resilience and strength.