Sham Kaushal is one of India’s most celebrated action directors, known for choreographing unforgettable sequences in films like Lakshya, Bajirao Mastani, and Dangal. He is also widely recognised as the proud father of actors Vicky and Sunny Kaushal, with the Kaushal family often serving major family goals online. But behind his ever-smiling presence lies a harrowing past. In a recent revelation, Sham bravely opened up about the darkest phase of his life, when he was on the verge of giving up.

Sham Kaushal recalls doctors giving up hope after his cancer diagnosis

In a moving conversation with Aman Aujla, Sham Kaushal recounted a deeply personal and painful episode from 2003, when a sharp stomach pain on the set of Lakshya in Ladakh led him to the most heartbreaking diagnosis. The 67-year-old veteran, who avoided talking about this chapter for nearly two decades, bared his heart out about what he feels was his darkest phase that almost pushed him to end his life.

While filming high-altitude action scenes with Hrithik Roshan for Lakshya, Sham Kaushal experienced severe stomach pain and was rushed to an Army hospital. Despite the warning signs, he returned to work on Shyam Benegal’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. However, upon returning to Mumbai, his condition worsened. After undergoing his first surgery, a biopsy revealed he had stomach cancer, and doctors feared he wouldn’t survive. The action director shared:

“It was only three days later that I regained my senses. I noticed that people’s reaction towards me had changed. They all seemed extremely worried. Apparently, after operating on me, they removed something from my stomach, which they further sent for testing to check whether it was cancerous. Apparently, it was. After the report came, the doctor shared that I won’t survive.”

Sham Kaushal recalls almost jumping off the hospital post-cancer diagnosis

The news hit hard. Sham recalled feeling overwhelmed and helpless as he lay alone in the hospital room. That very night, the action director had the impulse to jump off the hospital’s third floor and end his life rather than suffer to death. He recalled:

“They informed me in the evening, and at night, I had this wild thought of jumping from the third floor of the hospital where my room was situated. I didn’t make the decision out of weakness, but thought, when I have to die anyway, why not now? But I couldn’t move due to the pain post-surgery.”

Sham Kaushal, who was at the peak of his career at that time, found himself in silent conversation with a higher power, and he pleaded for ten more years of life if he were to live. After that emotional moment, something changed, and he was no longer scared to die. In his words:

“I told him, ‘I don’t want to live a life where I am weak. If you want to take me away, do it now. I have no complaints… if possible, then just spare me 10 more years as my kids are really young.’ After the conversation, I overcame the fear of death.”

The road to recovery

Sham Kaushal spent nearly 50 days in the hospital, battling stomach cancer. Thankfully, the disease had not spread, and after a year of regular follow-ups, he was declared cancer-free. With quiet pride, the 67-year-old recalled, “I had asked God to bless me with 10 more years, but today it has been 22 years.” Now a content man, Sham has earned immense respect in the industry and watched his sons, Vicky and Sunny, rise as fan favourites in Indian cinema.

What are your thoughts on Sham Kaushal’s momentary lapse after cancer diagnosis?

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