Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 3, 2014)

“Emraan Hashmi will be back in Mumbai to shoot for his film Mr X, from February 16,” informs uncle Mahesh Bhatt, also imparting the reassuring news that the actor’s four-year old son Ayaan who was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his kidney, is responding well to treatment in Canada.

On the recommendation of the doctors who performed an emergency surgery on him in Mumbai, the actor flew out his son to Canada because according to reports, it has the best children’s care in the world. “What not many of us are aware of is that when it comes to children, 90 per cent of cancer is curable. The treatment is regularised and Ayaan who is being given the mildest two-drug chemotherapy is doing well,” says an ebullient Bhatt

His mother, Praveen who has family there, will stay back in Canada with Ayaan. Emraan will fly there after he finishes with his film commitments in Mumbai. “After the anguish we faced, we have reason to believe that the dark night is behind us and Ayaan will be back with us in four months if not before,” says Bhatt.

What’s encouraging, he adds, is the way the film fraternity has come forward to stand by Emraan in his hour of need. “Akshay Kumar, who has a Canadian citizenship, called to offer his help. Our common friend, Ajay Virmani, who lives there, has also told us to call for anything we need. Strangers on the street stop me to say that they are offering prayers for Ayaan,” says an emotional Bhatt. “At a time when we hear only about bad things happening to people, it’s so heartening to see this ocean of goodness.”