Actress-politician Nafisa Ali, battling stage 3 ovarian and peritoneal cancer, announced she is resuming chemotherapy after a PET scan showed surgery is not possible, calling it a “new chapter” in her journey.
Published Date – 16 September 2025, 09:21 AM
Mumbai: Veteran actress-politician Nafisa Ali, who was diagnosed in 2018 with stage 3 peritoneal and ovarian cancer, on Tuesday shared an emotional update about her health, saying she will be resuming chemotherapy as surgery is not an option for her at the moment.
Taking to Instagram, Nafisa posted a screenshot of a quote that read: “One day my children asked, ‘Who will we turn to when you’re gone?’ I told them, ‘Turn to each other. That is my greatest gift — siblings who share the same love and memories. Protect one another, and remember: your bond is stronger than anything life can bring.’”
Expressing her determination, Nafisa captioned the post: “A new chapter in my journey from today. I had my PET scan yesterday… so back to chemotherapy as surgery is not possible. Believe me, I love life.”
Nafisa was the national swimming champion from 1972 to 1974. In 1976, she won the Eve’s Weekly Miss India title, represented India at the Miss International contest, and was declared the 2nd runner-up.
She made her acting debut with Shyam Benegal’s 1979 film Junoon alongside Shashi Kapoor. She later appeared in films such as Major Saab starring Amitabh Bachchan, Bewafaa, Life In A… Metro, Guzaarish, and Yamla Pagla Deewana. She also featured in the Malayalam film Big B with Mammootty.
In 2004, Nafisa contested the Lok Sabha elections from South Kolkata but was unsuccessful. In 2009, she contested from Lucknow on the Samajwadi Party ticket after Sanjay Dutt’s disqualification, later rejoining the Indian National Congress in November that year, declaring she was returning “for life.”
In October 2021, she joined the All India Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election.
She was last seen in the 2022 Sooraj Barjatya Film UNChai, Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, Sarika, Danny Denzongpa, and Nafisa Ali.
