'Been Given A Second Life': Manisha Koirala On Battling Cancer, Working With SLB

Manisha Koirala and the cast of Heeramandi.

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram)

Manisha Koirala is all set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi, which releases in Netflix on 1 May. Ahead of the release, Manisha took to Instagram to pen a long note on her journey and the major events of her life. She wrote that she is very happy because she is no longer chasing the best movie roles or the city life. Instead, she chooses to work only with people whose work she respects. Speaking about battling cancer, Manisha wrote that she has been given a second chance.

Along with the note, Manisha also shared photos of her parents, friends and pets.

Manisha began by writing, "I have a lot to be grateful for in life... a career that saw a lot of high moments, significant roles, best directors, and friendships that have stood the test of time... and it is with God’s grace that I have been given a second life after battling cancer. I have also seen the lowest depths in life and took many wrong turns. Life has been a good teacher with all its highs and lows, and I understand the value of time more intensely now. Yesterday was exhilarating and traumatic, but today is serene and peaceful. The best phase of my life... my days are all about spending time with my parents, who are aging, exploring nature trails in Nepal, tending to my beautiful garden, looking after my furbabies, surrendering to my spiritual practices, and doing maybe one film once in a long while. I no longer want all the best movies or city life. I chose to work only with people whose work I respect, and that’s why when the call came from SLB, I knew it was something worth leaving my serene world back for a short time."

Manisha wrote about her experience working with Bhansali after Khamoshi and a group of talented women on Heeramandi. "Heera Mandii has been enriching on many levels.... to work with SLB again after Khamoshi. He was so talented from day one, and how he has grown as a filmmaker... but his eye for detail and larger-than-life vision retain the same rigor. Equally joyful was the experience of working with so many young, beautiful, and talented women. Each one of them was at ease with herself. There were no attempts to pull each other down. No fighting over lines, space, or angles. Or better costumes and hair. They have all been doing meaty roles in their films and earned the confidence to stand their ground."

Heeramandi also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.