Veteran TV Star Shagufta Ali Reveals She Hid Stage‑3 Breast Cancer to Keep Working

Shagufta Ali, the familiar face behind countless Indian TV soaps – from Sasural Simar Ka to Saath Nibhaana Saathiya – has finally let the curtain down on a chapter many of us never imagined.

In a candid conversation with journalist Siddharth Kanan, the actress confessed that she was diagnosed with stage‑3 breast cancer several years ago but kept it hidden from everyone, including producers and co‑actors. “Back then, the industry whispered ‘don’t tell anyone, or you won’t get work,’” she recalled, her voice tinged with both sadness and a hint of lingering frustration.

She explained that the fear of being labelled “un‑reliable” or “high‑risk” made her swallow the news, hoping it would disappear on its own. “People used to say, ‘no, no, don’t talk about it,’” Shagufta said, repeating the refrain that haunted her. “If you speak, the doors close. So I stayed silent.”

Silence, however, came with a hefty price tag. To afford expensive chemotherapy and radiation sessions, the actress was forced to part with her beloved car and a chunk of her jewellery – items she’d saved for years. “I sold my car, my gold, everything that had sentimental value, just to keep the treatments going,” she admitted, eyes welling up.

She made a point of noting that, despite the financial strain, she never sold her house. “My home was the one place I could still hold onto,” she said, highlighting how fragile a television actor’s financial safety net can be.

When pressed about criticism that she supposedly lived without savings after 2017, Shagufta laughed bitterly. “I’m not an Ambani or a Tata. I’m a TV actor, the sole breadwinner for my family. My ‘savings’ were the very thing that helped me survive those dark days.”

Her health battle also forced her to step away from a recurring role in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. She had been cast as Aaditya Gupta’s grandmother, but escalating health concerns meant she had to bow out, with Neelu Vaghela taking over the part.

Shagufta’s revelation shines a stark light on the pressures that actors—especially women—face in an industry that often values glamour over well‑being. Her story is a reminder that behind the glittering screen lies a human being, vulnerable, resilient, and still fighting for dignity.