I am cancer free: Mahesh Manjrekar

Actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar on Monday anunced he is cancer free, two months after he underwent a surgery for urinary bladder cancer.

Manjrekar, 63, said he was diagsed with disease during making of his upcoming directorial "Antim: Final Truth", starring Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma.

filmmaker shot last leg of actioner amid his chemorapy sessions, he said.

"During 'Antim', I was diagsed with cancer, I shot last portions when I had cancer and was taking chemorapy. Today, I am happy to tell you all that I am cancer free," Manjrekar told reporters.

director was speaking at trailer launch of film, where he was joined by Khan and his co-star and bror-in-law Sharma.

Manjrekar is kwn for helming acclaimed films like 1999 drama "Vaastav: Reality", National Award-winning "Astitva" (2000) and Amitabh Bachchan starrer "Viruddh... Family Comes First".

When asked if it was difficult to shoot film while undergoing chemorapy, Manjrekar said it was fortunate that procedure didn't affect him a lot.

"I had to take chemorapy first before going in for a huge surgery. During shoot, I was under chemorapy but it didn't affect me that much. I have realised that work, passion drive you. I always think positive.

"When I was told I have cancer, it didn't shock me. I accepted it. re are so many people who get cancer, (but) y fight and survive. So it didn't bor me too much. All of m ( team) were caring and helping, re was problem. I was quite comfortable. Both of m (Salman, Aayush) were very supportive," he added.

"Antim" is billed as a "gripping tale of two powerful men" with polar opposite ideologies; one a cop and or a gangster, played by Khan and Sharma, respectively.

Manjrekar, who also stars in film, said he didn't want to feature in "Antim" but was forced by 55-year-old star to do so. y have previously co-starred in many films like "Wanted" (2009), "Dabangg" (2010) and "Dabangg 3" (2019).

"I prefer t to act in films I direct, because you can't see yourself act, you can't say ok (to your own shot), you don't kw what you have done... It was a nice, beautiful cameo, so I did it... I have kwn Salman for so many years. He is like a bror to me, we have done so many films toger."

"It was t difficult to direct him. It was easy because I knew exactly what I wanted from him - to say lines and mean m... I was t overwhelmed or scared of him," filmmaker added.

"Antim" will be released in atres worldwide on vember 26. film will be distributed globally by Zee Studios.