Rajshri thanks supporters and reflects on her challenging journey
Actor Rajshri Deshpande, widely known for her powerful performances in Sacred Games, Manto, Black Warrant and Rangeen, recently revealed that she was diagnosed with grade-1 breast cancer and has successfully undergone surgery. The 43-year-old shared the update through an emotional post from her hospital bed, thanking doctors, friends and fans for their support.
In her message, Rajshri disclosed that doctors detected infiltrating ductal carcinoma (NOS) during a routine medical check-up. Because the condition was caught early, she was able to receive timely treatment and undergo surgery successfully. The actor expressed gratitude to her medical team and reassured well-wishers that she is recovering well.
As news of her health update spread, many fans revisited earlier interviews where Rajshri had spoken openly about the intense struggles and controversies she faced during her journey in cinema.
In a throwback interview with Dainik Bhaskar, the actor spoke about growing up in a modest farming family in Aurangabad and discovering her love for performing arts at a young age.
“Born into a farming family in Aurangabad, I grew up attending a Marathi medium school, cherishing barefoot summers in mango orchards. My artistic journey began unknowingly through family gatherings where I’d perform dance and mimicry,” she said.
Also Read: Sacred Games actor Rajshri Deshpande reveals breast cancer diagnosis, says tests and surgery felt like a “roller-coaster ride”
Rajshri recalled how her earliest performances were in local orchestras, where she would perform Lavani dance for a small amount. “My passion for performing arts led me to join village orchestras, where I danced Lavani for ₹500 – my first taste of the enchanting world of performance,” she shared.
The move to Mumbai, however, was far from easy. The actor revealed that she faced repeated rejection before finally finding a breakthrough.
“Moving to Mumbai brought new challenges. Despite numerous failed auditions and minor roles, I persevered through theater and continued auditioning, viewing each as a valuable acting exercise. My breakthrough came with Angry Indian Goddess in 2015,” she said.
Rajshri also spoke about the backlash surrounding her 2017 Malayalam film S Durga, which faced controversy even before release.
“My film S Durga faced intense controversy before release, forcing a name change from Sexy Durga. Without even watching it, people condemned the film, leading to its initial ban. I received death and acid attack threats, while my family faced harassment,” she revealed.
Perhaps one of the most disturbing incidents came after the release of Netflix’s Sacred Games, where Rajshri appeared in a bold scene opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
“The series received a lot of praise, but I was called a porn star for my intimacy scene. Someone tampered with the series scene and uploaded a clip to a porn website. My photos were morphed and made viral,” she said.
She also pointed out the double standards in the criticism she faced. “No one was questioning Nawazuddin Siddiqui or director Anurag Kashyap. Everyone was blaming me. But I didn’t let it affect me. The controversies continued, and I quietly kept focusing on my work.”
Through controversies, threats and now a serious health battle, Rajshri Deshpande’s journey continues to reflect resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to her craft.
