Last Updated:
Following a series of misdiagnoses, Nafisa Ali finally got to know about her stage 3 peritoneal cancer.
Nafisa Ali was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018. (Photo Source: Instagram)
Veteran actress and politician Nafisa Ali Sodhi, who was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018, revealed that she is battling the disease for the second time. She was in Goa when she first got to know about the diagnosis. Recalling the time, she shared that after a series of misdiagnoses, she finally got to know about her stage 3 peritoneal cancer. The delay in diagnosis had caused the cancer to metastasise. But she overcame the tough battle, only for it to resurge.
In an interview with The Quint, Nafisa Ali opened up about her journey, sharing the challenges she faced during misdiagnosis and treatment. “I knew something was wrong with my body. I used to walk every day in Goa, but suddenly I started feeling unusually tired. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just something minor,” she recalled of the time when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Despite visiting several doctors, she was repeatedly told nothing was wrong. Some prescribed her antibiotics, whereas one doctor told her she had tuberculosis.
Nafisa Ali Recalls Placing A Bet With Her Doctors
The 68-year-old actress shared that she even pleaded with the radiologist to recheck her scans as she was sure that something was terribly wrong with her. She demanded a PET scan and even placed a bet with her doctors on her diagnosis. “When the reports came in, they had no words. I had bet them it wasn’t TB—I took Rs 5 from each of them. They were upset, but I told them, ‘It’s okay. I’ll beat this,’” she mentioned.
The misdiagnosis had affected her deeply. Since then, Nafisa has become an advocate for cancer awareness, where she emphasises the importance of early detection through cancer marker tests like the CA 125 test. “Don’t blindly spend money without understanding your options. A biopsy is one of the worst things if not done properly. The moment they pierced the tumour with a needle, the cancer spread. That’s how I reached stage 3,” she said.
Nafisa Ali Says She “Couldn’t Believe” When Her Cancer Returned
Through her social media, Nafisa revealed earlier this month that her cancer had come back. Seven years after her first battle, Nafisa was diagnosed again after she returned from her trip to Australia, this time with stage 4, which was non-operable. When asked how she felt when she was told that she now has stage 4 cancer, she said, “I couldn’t believe it.” The actress added, “Even the first time, when they told me that I had a very aggressive form of peritoneal, ovarian cancer, which has spread because of misdiagnosis, I laughed it off. I said it would be okay. That was Stage 3. This time, I asked the doctor, ‘What stage is it?’ Turned out to be 4. So I said, ‘Okay! It’s just another step. Let’s try and work it out.’”
Nafisa Ali Calls Chemotherapy “Toxic Process”
Nafisa also talked about the moment she accepted her illness. “It was only after my first chemotherapy session—12 days later—when I ran my hand through my hair and a whole chunk came out, that I truly accepted it. I cried and said, ‘I actually have cancer now.’ That moment made it real.” She spoke about the challenges of chemotherapy. Calling it “a very toxic process,” she explained, “I hate it. But I take it. I talk to my body and tell it to enjoy the journey—to let the cancer be attacked and depleted. It’s not a joy in anyone’s life.”
Nafisa Ali Reveals She Is Preparing Her Family For Life Without Her
Despite the hardships, the 68-year-old remains grounded and spiritual. She shared that she is preparing her family for life without her and finds comfort in the thought of a peaceful afterlife. “Maybe there’s a new world out there—maybe we’ll all party again with old friends and loved ones we miss,” she said.
Nafisa, who made her debut in the film industry with the 1979 film Junoon, was last seen on-screen in 2022 in Uunchai, which featured Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, and Sarika.
Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-…Read More
Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-… Read More
September 27, 2025, 16:10 IST
