Rakesh Roshan felt ‘helpless’ as daughter Sunaina struggled through alcoholism, cancer: ‘I’d cry’

Sunaina said it was her father’s resilience that taught her how to face adversity. She revealed that when Rakesh himself was diagnosed with cancer, she consciously hid her own grief so she could be a source of strength for him. “I think I have got that strong mindset from you, how to fight everything. And I think I did the same thing when you had cancer. I was very courageous, smiling in front of you. But in my room, I used to sob and sob. I remember there were days, I would actually go to the mirror, start laughing by myself and in that way come and face you. I think I never told you this before. It’s the first time I’m telling you that.”

‘Strength actually has to come from within yourself’

Moved by her revelation, Rakesh reflected on how maintaining hope can make a difference during a loved one’s illness. “Good, that’s the way because you do feel sorry when some family member, their children or any member in the family who are very close to you is not doing well health wise. But then by keeping a positive attitude, by smiling in front of them, giving them more strength at that time always has a good result.”

Bringing the conversation to a close, Sunaina spoke about the importance of inner resolve while dealing with illness. “But that strength actually has to come from within yourself. Yes, I am going to fight it. Yes, I’m going to overcome this.”

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‘The worst phase of my life’

Last year, in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Sunaina also opened up about another deeply personal struggle, her battle with alcoholism, which she described as the darkest phase of her life. Reflecting on that period, she said, “Alcohol is not a bad thing, but alcoholism is where you do not have control over your drinks. I was going through a very, very difficult time. I was vulnerable emotionally and wanted to numb my senses, so I was drinking. I know that was the worst phase of my life.”

She explained that what initially began as a way to cope with emotional pain gradually turned into an addiction that affected both her physical and mental well-being. “I have fallen off beds, injured myself, I had a slip from a chair, and it was a very, very difficult phase. It’s a vicious cycle because you get a high, your brain is numb, and the next day, you experience more anxiety, panic attacks, dehydration, you have no energy to do anything. So you don’t want to get back into a good state, and you start drinking again.”

Sunaina eventually sought professional help with the support of her family and spent 28 days at a rehabilitation centre, marking the beginning of her recovery journey.

DISCLAIMER: This article reflects personal experiences and emotional reflections shared during a candid conversation regarding addiction recovery, illness, and family coping mechanisms. It is provided for informational and inspirational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or clinical guidance.