Last September Ayushmann Khurrana revealed to the world that his wife Tahira Kashyap had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and was undergoing treatment. Tahira was detected with DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ) in her right breast, which had high grade malignant cells. Soon after having a mastectomy in November, Tahira returned to work while continuing chemotherapy.
Ayushmann and Tahira have been sharing their journey on social media. In an interview with IANS, Ayushmann had said, “I am glad I have a partner like Tahira who is very brave, strong, who is an inspiration. I have started seeing life through a different prism. I was giving her my time, of course. In the morning I was promoting my films, in the nights I was with her in the hospital… It is not easy.”
Recently Tahira shared that she is done with her final chemotherapy session:
Now she has ditched her hair extensions, after calling them ‘inconvenient’, and shaved her head off.
Sonali Bendre was diagnosed with cancer last year and not only embraced the process of chemotherapy and the its side-effects, but chronicled her journey on social media as well.
The fact that these women are spreading the message that #baldisbeautiful needs to be celebrated. Having long hair is considered a symbol of femininity according to mainstream beauty standards. So, choosing to embrace a shorn look and forsake vanity is not an easy decision for most women who are constantly put under scrutiny.
Before Sonali and Tahira, Bollywood actors like Manisha Koirala, Nafisa Ali, and Lisa Ray also became beacons of hope for many survivors of cancer who were on their journey to take the disease head on.
Tahira’s forever cheerleader, her bae Ayushmann, retweeted her photo and called her a “hottie”, making our hearts melt. But, he’s not the only one. Bollywood has been rallying and cheering for her recovery too. While Deepika Padukone retweeted the photo with the caption “hot”, Kubbra Sait left the comment, “You shining star! Light up the way,” under Tahira’s post.
