Manisha Koirala is celebrated for her iconic roles in Indian cinema. But behind her graceful persona is a profound personal journey marked by solitude and self-realisation, especially since her cancer diagnosis. In a deeply emotional moment, Manisha opened up about the loneliness she experienced after surviving ovarian cancer—and how her perception of friendships drastically changed. "I really believed that I had multiple friends. I thought partying or travelling together or doing fun things meant people would sit with me in my pain. And that was not it," the actor said in an interview with NDTV. "People are not capable of sitting with anybody's pain, let alone their own. We always try to find excuses not to feel pain. We want to escape pain, and that's human nature." Despite belonging to a large, well-to-do extended family, it was only her immediate family who stood by her. “It was my parents, my brother, and my brother’s wife—and that is it,” she said. “When all else falls, these are the people who will be with me.” Manisha's candid admission highlights a painful but necessary truth: support during illness often comes from the most unexpected places—and absence from the most expected ones. In her words, that realisation “never left” her and redefined her life priorities. “My priority is my immediate family, no matter what now. They come first in my life.” She also took therapy after her cancer treatment, encouraged by a concerned acquaintance who noticed signs of depression. “He said, 'I think you're depressed. You need counselling.' And I said, ‘Really? Okay.’ Because I was so eager to heal,” Manisha recalled. That eagerness led to a year-long journey with a psychotherapist. "It was really, really one of the best advices I got. When we are sick, when our body is sick, we go to an expert, we go to the doctor. So when emotionally and mentally we are slightly disturbed or hurt or confused, please take help. You know, there is help available—and why not?" What emotional support during cancer recovery really looks like Dr Tripti Raheja, Lead Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, agrees that emotional support plays a role just as vital as medical intervention. “Supporting a loved one with cancer goes beyond just physical help—it involves emotional presence, empathy, and consistency,” she says. She stresses the importance of simply being there. “Whether it’s sitting silently during treatment, going with them to doctor appointments, or just spending time without always discussing the illness—your presence alone offers comfort.” Listening without judgment is key. “Allow the patient to express their fears or anger without trying to ‘fix’ things. Sometimes they just need to be heard,” Dr Raheja adds. Small, practical gestures—like cooking, errands, or childcare—can ease the burden immensely. It's also vital to respect the patient’s autonomy. “They know their body best,” she explains. Dr Raheja also urges families and friends to watch out for emotional distress. “Withdrawn behaviour or prolonged sadness may indicate the need for professional support. Encourage it gently. And don’t forget to celebrate the small wins—these moments matter.”
