Television actress Dipika Kakar opened up in a recent vlog about the emotional turmoil she’s going through during her ongoing liver cancer treatment. Even though her latest scan reports are “normal,” she admitted that the fear never truly goes away, and she’s haunted daily by anxiety.
In the video, which features her husband Shoaib Ibrahim by her side, Dipika shared the agonizing reality: some days are good, some terrible. “It’s not that I feel overwhelmed every moment,” she said. “There are days I feel really hopeful and happy. But then there are times when it just feels like my heart can’t hold everything.”
During a recent check-up with her oncologist, Dr Imran Shaikh, she experienced a breakdown. Although “everything’s okay” medically, she explained, the emotional burden is heavy. She talked about how she spoke to her doctor and another mentor, “Somnath Sir,” who helped her understand that anxiety can be part of recovery, even when treatments seem to be working.
On top of the mental stress, Dipika also revealed the physical challenges she contends with daily: fluctuating thyroid levels, hormonal changes, extreme dryness of her skin, and pressure in her ears and neck. These side effects, she admitted, are draining, but she’s determined to keep pushing forward.
To herself and her viewers, she framed a choice: “Either sit with the fear and let it consume you or face it and keep moving forward.” She made it clear she’s choosing the latter.
Dipika also candidly talked about more tangible side effects of her treatment, including serious hair fall. She described how hard it is when she sees clumps of hair come out after a bath, a reminder of how cancer treatment affects not just the body, but one’s sense of self.
This is not Dipika’s first fight. Earlier this year, she underwent a 14-hour surgery to remove a tumor, and reportedly 22 percent of her liver was removed. She has since started targeted therapy, a long road ahead, but one she is navigating with honesty, strength, and the support of her family.
In sharing her vulnerability so openly, Dipika is doing something hard: acknowledging that bravery isn’t about being unafraid, but about facing fear every single day. Her message to other people in similar battles is clear, don’t give up, keep going, and allow yourself to feel everything.
Her transparency also underscores a broader reality about serious illness: recovery is not just physical. Anxiety, emotional breakdowns, and daily side effects are all part of the process. Dipika’s willingness to show that publicly makes her journey more real, and her resilience more inspiring.