Clad in plain white kurti and jeans, slimmer but still gorgeous 42-year-old actress on Friday urged her fans and everyone never to take life for granted. Speaking at a conference on "Advances in Hematologic malignancies" in the capital, Manisha said that she contemplated about life and survival when she was lying in hospital bed as a cancer patient only to realize that life and health is too precious to be neglected. [break]
While the organizers had branded Manisha as ´cancer survivor´ at the program where she was chief guest, she was quick enough to alter the term from ´survivor´ to ´crusader´. Winning attitude or warriors´ spirit is what everyone needs, including those battling serious diseases, so let´s not call the people like us survivor, but I would like to call myself cancer crusader, she stressed.
You battled cancer. Does it feel like getting new life?
Indeed, I consider it a new life. I thank my fans, my family, all my well wishers for their immense love and support. And the journey of my new life is going to be totally different. I am going to enjoy my life in a true sense because I have realized that death can occur anytime. You know, Steeve Jobs had said that death is a common destination we all have, at the end. But even those who believe in heaven do not like to die. Now I want to lead a healthy, meaningful life. I want to contribute to the society in whatever way I can. I want to tell everyone that we should be more responsible towards our health, should have positive mind and an attitude of a warrior.
What sort of daily routine you follow these days?
My entire family has been following certain timetable these days. We all do meditation in bed after we wake up. Then I go out for morning walk with my father. After that I do some yoga. I do pranayama in the evening for about an hour. I try to go to bed on time.
We limit our choices of food to only organic products. In the past, there was no danger of chemicals and adulteration in food items. Nowadays, we have to become very careful. Younger generation has craze for junk food or coca-cola etc. These are not healthy things. I mean, they don´t have to have a cancer or some other serious disease to start valuing their life and health.
You told 90 percent of the cause of cancer is environmental? Is it not more a genetic disease?
Yes, it is environmental and lifestyle related. The figure is based on research. Genetically also it happens. But in our case, it is more due to our unhealthy lifestyle I believe.
You have contributed a lot to the world of cinema. So in the coming days are you playing roles in Nepali movies?
If I get a good offer, I will accept that whether it´s from Bombay or from Kathmandu or anywhere else. I am thinking about it. I have been offered a few roles already. But I need little more time to get ready for all that. I may look well from outside but I need some more months to really get healthy from inside.
Would you be doing roles of a lead heroine or character roles?
It really does not matter as long as the role has some substance. I cannot let my fans down. I don´t want to make them feel that I was a superstar then and now I am doing trivial roles (she laughs).
There are many cancer patients in the world. What would you like to say to them?
It is the same thing where we take the treatment of cancer. You take the treatment here, in Bombay, in America and anywhere else, it is all the same. What is most important is your fighting spirit. My friends who had fought such diseases earlier taught me to remain strong. If it is detected, it is curable. Secondly, even if it is in later stage, it is curable nowadays. So, your inner strength is the main thing. Support of friends, family is essential.
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