When Sonali Bendre ditched wig at airport to face paparazzi for the first time amid cancer treatment: ‘Bald. It’s okay. I just walked out’ | Lifestyle News

The battle against cancer is painful, but it also inspires others who may be going through something similar. It was no different for actor Sonali Bendre, who recalled embracing her body during chemotherapy. Talking about facing the paparazzi with a bald look on her arrival in India after news of her being diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer broke out, she said that cancer changed a lot of things, including putting herself first.
“I remember when I landed in India, I had my wig and everything and had a plan to put it on. But the end of the flight, I was so exhausted. It was awkward in a wheelchair. I just chucked the wig. I am not going to wear it. This is what it is. It is bald. It’s okay. I just walked out,” Bendre told Kareena Kapoor Khan in 2024.
Admitting that it was hard, she added: “These are people who have seen your work, and your work has always been about looks. It was hard. But I must say that all the press there were so quiet and gentle with me. I had not seen that side of paparazzi ever. I was quite surprised. It was quite nice to see that. It just showed up that if you accept yourself, people accept you for what you are.”
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Taking a cue from her admission, let’s understand how pertinent it is to embrace oneself.
When you embrace yourself in this journey, you are not asking for perfection. “You are simply choosing to honour the fight, the patience, and the grace within you. You begin to see that strength isn’t loud or flashy. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, even when you feel like hiding,” said Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherap, coach, founder and director, Gateway of Healing.
We need to talk about cancer care (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
According to her, embracing yourself during and after chemotherapy is love. “Remember, it’s not always easy, but it is always powerful. You begin to realise that even in the middle of pain, you are still worthy, radiant, and deeply whole. You’re not trying to go back to who you were. You are gently becoming someone wiser, softer, and stronger than before. And that deserves to be honoured,” said Dr Tugnait.

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Allowing the changes instead of hiding them: “Hair loss, scars, and tired eyes are not things to be ashamed of. They are proof that you are healing,” said Dr Tugnait.
Speaking gently to yourself: There will be days when you feel low or lost. Talk to yourself kindly. Remind yourself that this, too, is part of the process.

Making peace with the slow days: Rest is not a weakness. Your body is doing deep work. Respect its pace.
Letting go of the old image of beauty: You are not any less because your appearance has changed. “Real beauty is quiet strength and softness that doesn’t break,” said Dr Tugnait.Story continues below this ad
Celebrating small wins: Getting out of bed, finishing a meal, smiling without effort- these moments matter.