‘I didn’t value my life so much before cancer’
From eating healthy to taking solo trips to various destinations such as Mount Kailash, actor Manisha Koirala is doing it all after winning the battle against ovarian cancer.
The cancer phase has changed her. Manisha says, “Before cancer, my lifestyle wasn’t that great. I didn’t value my life so much. It’s only when I was struggling for life, I realised that I was struggling. That’s why I tell people, please enjoy [life], value [it] and live well. Life is a gift.”
On the work front, Manisha will next be seen playing Nargis Dutt in the biopic on Sanjay Dutt. The film is being directed by Rajkumar Hirani, and Manisha can’t wait for the film’s release. “It has been great to be a part of the film, especially since I’m playing Nargis Duttji. And it’s by one of my favourite directors. So, I’m really proud of the film,” she says. Her latest release was this year’s Dear Maya.
What she has on her mind now is becoming a mom. While many Bollywood actors have taken to surrogacy (e.g. Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar), others have opted for adoption (e.g. Sunny Leone, Sushmita Sen). Manisha, too, has decided to adopt, and she tells us that it’ll happen by the end of 2017.
“I am very nervous,” she says with a wide smile. “But I’m rather excited, too. It’s going to be a huge challenge. First, I had to come out of my own fear, as doctors told me that I’d have to pass ten years [cancer-free] before they could tell me that I’m cured,” says Manisha. Her cancer was diagnosed in 2012 and after five years, she feels better about her health. Manisha adds, “Since I’ll be finishing my five years, I am hoping to adopt. It’ll be a girl, for sure.”
Every year, I gain more confidence that I’m fine. And as I gain confidence, I want to take the responsibility of a child MANISHA KOIRALA, ACTOR