Chhavi: Tahira put in a lot of confidence in me

Actress Chhavi Mittal, who bravely battled breast cancer in 2022, recently opened up about her journey on Shardul Pandit's podcast. Sharing deeply personal moments from her diagnosis and treatment, Chhavi revealed how filmmaker and author Tahira Kashyap played a pivotal role in giving her the strength she needed during her initial days of fear and uncertainty.

“The first person I called put me through to Tahira Kashyap. I had a long chat with her the next day. She put in a lot of confidence in me,” Chhavi shared emotionally. “Her cancer was very similar to mine. The surgery was similar, even the doctors were the same. She told me what to expect and how to go about it. That gave me a lot of clarity.”

Recalling the day she received her diagnosis, Chhavi revealed that her doctor was hesitant to confirm it. “The doctor refused to say if I had cancer and kept saying it would be alright. I pestered him to tell me. I had a script narration to attend and told him I’d get back to him. Then I went home, told my husband to get me a beer, and broke the news. He had tears in his eyes, held my hand and said, ‘We will get through this.’ I said, ‘Of course.’”

Currently, Chhavi is undergoing a 10-year hormone therapy course, which comes with side effects such as hot flashes, mood swings, cramping, weight fluctuations, hair loss, and skin dryness. Despite this, she has remained positive and vocal, often addressing trolls and misinformation about breast cancer recovery on social media.

Her resilience and candid storytelling continue to inspire many, proving that strength shared is strength multiplied.