When asked how she coped with her cancer diagnosis and her initial reaction, Sonali shared her experience. Initially, upon receiving the diagnosis, her immediate thought was, ‘Why me?’ She thought she would wake up believing it was all a nightmare, unable to accept that it could happen to her.However, she gradually shifted her mindset. Instead of dwelling on ‘why me?’ she began questioning, ‘Why not me?’ Sonali mentioned that she began to feel grateful that the situation was not occurring to her sister or her son. She acknowledged that she had the strength to cope with it, access to the best hospitals, and a support system to assist her through the ordeal. By embracing the question ‘why not me?’ she initiated the healing process.
Sonali, who was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer in 2018, underwent treatment at a hospital in New York City and achieved remission in 2021. Since her recovery, she has been actively advocating for cancer awareness and supporting survivors. In a post on Cancer Survivors Day in 2021, she reflected on her journey, stating, “Looking back, I see strength, I see weakness, but most importantly, I see the determination to not let the C word define my life thereafter… You shape the life you desire. The journey is what you make of it… so remember to take #OneDayAtATime and to #SwitchOnTheSunshine… #CancerSurvivorsDay”.
Now returning to the screen with the newsroom drama series ‘The Broken News’, the sequel is set to premiere on an OTT platform in May 2024. In this upcoming series, Sonali Bendre will appear alongside Shriya Pilgaonkar and Jaideep Ahlawat in significant roles. The series is scheduled to premiere starting May 3.
Sonali Bendre: ‘When I see lines on my face, of course I get insecure, but I also think that I have earned these. I don’t want to play a 20-year-old!’
