Advertisement

Updated May 11th, 2019 at 22:36 IST

‘I didn’t want to be an actor’s wife, doing things on a whim’: From finding her own identity to redefining ‘normal’ & ‘beautiful’ to her son amid cancer battle, Tahira Kashyap opens up

A lot has changed in the life of Ayushmann Khurrana and Tahira Kashyap since they fell in love in a Physics tuition class during their teenage. ‘I didn’t want to be an actor’s wife, doing things on a whim’: From finding her own identity to redefining ‘normal’ & ‘beautiful’ to her son amid cancer battle, Tahira Kashyap opens up.

Reported by: Joel Kurian
| Image:self
Advertisement

A lot has changed in the life of Ayushmann Khurrana and Tahira Kashyap since they fell in love in a Physics tuition class during their teenage. While their love story culminated in marriage, their professional and personal lives were not without hurdles. While the actor faced intense struggle before becoming one of the most successful stars of the current generation, the latter had a harder battle to fight, both on the professional and personal fronts. From the struggle to find her own identity to breast cancer, Tahira won it all to become an inspiration for all of us. 

READ: ‘You Gorgeous’: Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Other Stars Laud Tahira Kashyap’s New Look

Sharing her life story with Humans of Bombay, Tahira opened up on her journey from being a ‘closeted writer’, even crying since she ‘didn’t want to be an actor’s wife doing things on a whim’ to finding her own identity by writing and directing her short film 'Toffee.'

The filmmaker also opened up on being diagnosed with cancer, but how she told herself it ‘doesn’t define or weaken me’ as she even posts pictures of her scar as her ‘badge of honour.’

She also revealed that her son was embarrassed about her bald look when she lost hair due to chemotherapy, but she was able to redefine ‘normal’ & ‘beautiful’ to him by appearing in front of his friends. Tahira is in a happy space today and seeks to spread awareness about early detection of breast cancer, overcome ‘curve balls’ thrown at her and love herself and live her best life. 

Here’s what Tahira wrote: 

“I was a closeted writer, afraid to explore her passion. I’d studied biotechnology & then mass communication.When I moved to Mumbai I worked as a professor & even in PR & radio. In my heart I wanted to write & make films. But I didn’t want to be an actor’s wife doing things on a whim. So I hustled in the day but cried at night.  
It continued until I came across Nicherin’s Buddhism–a philosophy that gave me wings to fly! It was tough but it didn’t seem impossible anymore. I started writing & even made a short film! 
I remember my film made it to a film festival in Taiwan. So I went there with my husband & at the airport, as usual we were looking for someone standing with my husbands name. But he took my hand & pointed at a man holding a placard that said ‘Tahira Kashyap’. I had finally found my own identity! 
Just when things were good, life threw a curveball at me. One of my breasts had started feeling heavier & there was some secretion. So I went to the gynecologist, who after an ultrasound suggested I meet an oncologist. I got more tests done & in a few days I went from being under a 2% risk to having stage 0 Breast cancer.  
I underwent a 6 hour long surgery, where they removed & reconstructed my breast.  
But it wasn’t over–after one pending biopsy report, we realised that I was at stage 1 cancer. I’d to undergo 12 sessions of chemotherapy. It took a toll on my body & I started losing my hair.  
But that didn’t stop me. Everyday I went to office, I told myself that this doesn’t define or weaken me. My faith helped me embrace it. I went bald, I even posted pictures of my scar–it was my badge of honour.  
I remember my 7 year old son was embarrassed because I was bald. He told me not to come in front of his friends. But I didn’t want that. So I went & met all his friends, they gaped for a bit, but were normal later. I think I redefined ‘normal’ & ‘beautiful’ for my son that day.  
I am happy & full of gratitude. I am determined to spread awareness about early detection of breast cancer & follow my passion by overcoming any curve balls thrown my way. I’ve made it my mission to love myself & to live my best life, come what may.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“I was a closeted writer, afraid to explore her passion. I’d studied biotechnology & then mass communication.When I moved to Mumbai I worked as a professor & even in PR & radio. In my heart I wanted to write & make films. But I didn’t want to be an actor’s wife doing things on a whim. So I hustled in the day but cried at night. It continued until I came across Nicherin’s Buddhism–a philosophy that gave me wings to fly! It was tough but it didn’t seem impossible anymore. I started writing & even made a short film! I remember my film made it to a film festival in Taiwan. So I went there with my husband & at the airport, as usual we were looking for someone standing with my husbands name. But he took my hand & pointed at a man holding a placard that said ‘Tahira Kashyap’. I had finally found my own identity! Just when things were good, life threw a curveball at me. One of my breasts had started feeling heavier & there was some secretion. So I went to the gynecologist, who after an ultrasound suggested I meet an oncologist. I got more tests done & in a few days I went from being under a 2% risk to having stage 0 Breast cancer. I underwent a 6 hour long surgery, where they removed & reconstructed my breast. But it wasn’t over–after one pending biopsy report, we realised that I was at stage 1 cancer. I’d to undergo 12 sessions of chemotherapy. It took a toll on my body & I started losing my hair. But that didn’t stop me. Everyday I went to office, I told myself that this doesn’t define or weaken me. My faith helped me embrace it. I went bald, I even posted pictures of my scar–it was my badge of honour. I remember my 7 year old son was embarrassed because I was bald. He told me not to come in front of his friends. But I didn’t want that. So I went & met all his friends, they gaped for a bit, but were normal later. I think I redefined ‘normal’ & ‘beautiful’ for my son that day. I am happy & full of gratitude. I am determined to spread awareness about early detection of breast cancer & follow my passion by overcoming any curve balls thrown my way. I’ve made it my mission to love myself & to live my best life, come what may.”

A post shared by Humans of Bombay (@officialhumansofbombay) on

READ: Ayushmann Khurrana's Wife Tahira Kashyap's Post On Dealing With Cancer Stage 1A Will Make You Say 'We Shall Overcome'

 

Advertisement

Published May 11th, 2019 at 22:03 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Ramban Accident
7 minutes ago
Bitcoin
9 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
11 minutes ago
Faridabad Fire: Massive Blaze Engulfs Factory in Bhankri Village, Panic Grips Locality
20 minutes ago
Riyan Parag
21 minutes ago
Raw Mango
24 minutes ago
Byju's leadership dispute
26 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo