Veteran actress Aruna Irani, known for her decades-spanning career in Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati cinema, has opened up for the first time about her private battle with breast cancer—not once, but twice.
The actress, who made her debut as a child artist in 1961 and has since contributed to over 500 films, revealed in a candid interview with Lelan that she first sensed something was wrong while working on a shoot.
“One day during the shoot, I didn’t know what it was, but I felt something was wrong,” she shared.
Upon visiting a doctor, a small lump was detected. Though her doctor advised chemotherapy, Irani refused treatment due to her fear of losing her hair, a choice she later admitted came at a cost.
“The doctor said to take medicine, and I was still working, so I took the medicine. If my hair fell out, how could I shoot?” she explained.
Her decision not to undergo chemotherapy led to a recurrence of cancer during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
“Meri hi galti thi, as pehle maine chemotherapy nahi lee thi. I took it this time,” Aruna admitted, referring to her mistake in declining chemo during her first diagnosis.
This time around, the veteran actress followed her doctor’s advice and underwent chemotherapy.
“You still lose a little hair,” she noted, “but woh jaldi aa bhi jaate hai,” adding that regrowth was quicker than she had feared.
A Growing Chorus in the Industry
Irani joins a growing list of public figures who are speaking openly about health challenges, particularly breast cancer.
Earlier this year, Tahira Kashyap, author and wife of actor Ayushmann Khurrana, revealed that her breast cancer had returned after seven years. Diagnosed initially in 2018, she has long been vocal about the importance of early detection and regular screening.
“It’s vital to talk about it,” Tahira emphasized in a social media post. “Women need to understand that catching it early can save lives.”
A Message of Awareness and Courage
Aruna Irani’s story adds a powerful voice to the ongoing conversation about breast cancer awareness in India. Her experience serves as a reminder that early action and complete medical treatment are essential—and that no role, job, or appearance should take precedence over one’s health.
In sharing her journey, Irani hopes to encourage other women—especially in the entertainment industry—to prioritize health, embrace early screening, and never delay treatment out of fear or inconvenience.
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