Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 9, 2019)

Early on Tuesday Hrithik Roshan took to the social media to share that his actor-filmmaker father Rakesh Roshan was diagnosed with early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the throat (throat cancer) a few weeks ago. “Asked my dad for a picture this morning. Knew he wouldn’t miss gym on surgery day. He is probably the strongest man I know,” the 44-year-old actor informed, adding that as a family they are “fortunate and blessed” to have a leader like his father.

Roshan senior was operated upon on Tuesday morning at a SoBo hospital. “He is better now and recovering well. We were all very tense about the surgery and the entire family was in the hospital with him. God willing, he will be up in the next three days and should be discharged from the hospital,” informed his brother and veteran music director Rajesh Roshan.

Soon after Hrithik’s tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended support to the Roshan family, saying he was praying for Rakesh. “He is a fighter and I am sure he will face this challenge with utmost courage,” the PM tweeted. Grateful for his support, Rajesh added, “That was very bighearted of the Prime Minister and a huge encouragement for both the patient and his family.”

Hrithik, responded to the PM too, thanking him for his concern and good wishes. “I am very happy to inform that according to the doctors his surgery has gone off well,” he added.

The Big C has struck many in B-town in the last year. Irrfan Khan announced in March last year that he had been diagnosed with Neuro Endocrine Tumour and has been out of the country since. In July, Sonali Bendre flew off to New York to be treated for high grade cancer that had metastised. The actress is currently in Mumbai on a “happy break”. Rishi Kapoor is also undergoing treatment in the Big Apple and Neetu recently said on the social media “hope in future cancer is only a Zodiac sign”. In November, Nafisa Ali revealed through a Facebook post that she had that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife Tahira Kashyap who was detected with DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ) in her right breast with high grade malignant cells recently underwent her last chemo.