Emraan Hashmi Recalls Son’s Cancer Diagnosis: “Our Whole World Flipped in a Matter of Hours”
Emraan Hashmi Recalls Son’s Cancer Diagnosis: “Our Whole World Flipped in a Matter of Hours”
Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi opens up about the emotional turmoil after his son’s cancer diagnosis in 2014, calling it the most difficult phase of his life.
Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi, who is currently promoting his upcoming film Ground Zero, recently shared a deeply emotional chapter of his life—his son’s battle with cancer. In a heartfelt conversation with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, Hashmi recalled the life-altering afternoon when doctors informed him and his wife that their three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. The actor described how everything changed in a matter of hours and how the following years were the most difficult of his life.
Hashmi recounted the day—January 13, 2014—as the moment his world turned upside down. “My entire life changed in one afternoon,” he said. “We went for a brunch, and during that outing, my son asked my wife to take him to the washroom. He passed blood in his urine. What started as a joyous day turned into a nightmare. Within three hours, we were in a clinic, and the doctor told us that our son had cancer. He had to undergo surgery the next day, followed by chemotherapy. My whole world flipped in just 12 hours.”
The Murder actor shared that the diagnosis was completely unexpected, with no prior symptoms being noticed by anyone in the family. The experience, he said, was more traumatic than any professional setback he had ever encountered. “No professional upheaval comes even close to what we faced during that time. This continued for five years,” he revealed.
Hashmi also opened up about the emotional strength required to support their son through treatment. “The first day we received the news, my wife and I didn’t cry in front of our son. We knew it could affect his mental state. So we went into a room and cried there. That was the only day we allowed ourselves to break down,” he said.
Speaking about his own mental state during this period, Hashmi admitted to having a deeply vulnerable moment. “When I came home after hearing the diagnosis, I had a fleeting thought—I wanted to smash myself into the glass door by the balcony. That was my turbulent state of mind. But we made a conscious choice to stay positive and get through it,” he shared.
Tragedy struck again soon after his son completed treatment. Hashmi’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away within six months. “After my son’s treatment got over, my mother was diagnosed. She passed away six months later. That was a big shock for me,” he said. Reflecting on the loss, he added, “One of my biggest regrets is that I was shooting and didn’t know how serious it was. She had undergone chemotherapy. While I was boarding a flight, I got the call that she was no more. Those 15 hours on the flight were the longest of my life.”
Hashmi’s candid account shines a light on the emotional toll of battling a life-threatening illness within the family, and how it reshapes priorities and perspectives. As Ground Zero prepares for release, the actor’s personal story is a stark reminder of the human side of celebrities, often hidden behind the glamour of the screen.
