Director Anurag Basu, who is known for films like Murder, Gangster: A Love Story, and Life in a… Metro, among others, recently opened up about his battle with cancer.
Anurag overcame blood cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2004. He had APL, a type of blood cancer. In a podcast called Unfiltered By Samdish, Anurag revealed that he was shooting for Murder and Saaya when he was diagnosed. He noticed blisters around his mouth, and though doctors suggested a checkup, he kept postponing it until his health worsened.
The director is married to Tani Basu, and they have two daughters, Ishana and Ahana. When Anurag was diagnosed with cancer, Tani didn’t know at first and found out through the news. Anurag shared in the podcast that doctors gave him only two weeks to live. At that time, Tani was seven months pregnant. He mentioned how his wife struggled to stay by his side, while he pushed himself for two months, determined to see his baby’s face. He kept fighting until he became cancer-free.
In the same interview, Basu talked about the struggles he faced as his health worsened. He expressed gratitude to those who donated blood, mentioning that he still doesn’t know whose blood is in his body.
Anurag further explained that his internal organs started bleeding, his face became swollen, and he had difficulty breathing. He described how suffocating it felt, which made him fully realize the seriousness of his condition. He also thanked Sunil Dutt for helping him get a bed at Tata Hospital, something that might not have been possible for an ordinary person.
