Rajeev Khandelwal Gets Emotional Recalling His Mother’s Ovarian Cancer Battle
Actor Rajeev Khandelwal recently broke down on the reality show Tum Ho Naa, opening up about one of the most painful chapters of his life his mother’s battle with ovarian cancer. Sitting as the show’s host, he admitted that even years after her passing, he still carries a deep sense of guilt for not recognising the warning signs in time.
Rajeev’s mother, Vijaylaxmi Khandelwal, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and fought the disease for nearly one and a half years before she passed away in 2018. Her journey was long and emotionally exhausting for the entire family, and Rajeev has never shied away from acknowledging how personal and devastating that period was for him.timesofindia.indiatimes+2
“I Blame Myself,” Says Rajeev
On the episode of Tum Ho Naa, Rajeev spoke with raw honesty about those final days. He confessed that he didn’t fully understand what his mother was going through when she first started showing symptoms like back pain, loss of appetite, bloating, and persistent gas.
With a voice choked with emotion, he said, “Main kaafi hadh tak khud ko gunehgaar samajhta hoon kyunki mummy ko jo symptoms hue thein, tab mein samajh nahi paaya.” (I blame myself to a great extent because when my mother started showing those symptoms, I couldn’t understand what was happening at that time.)
He went on to appeal to the audience, especially women, to be vigilant about their health. “Agar aap mein kisi ko bhi kabhi back‑ache ke samasya ho, aapka agar appetite kam ho jaye, aapke pet mein kuch bloating ho, gas ho aur woh lambe arse tak chale, toh please jaa ke apna test kariye,” he said, urging everyone not to ignore what might be early signs of ovarian cancer.
A Message of Hope and Awareness
Rajeev also shared a message of hope: “Ovarian cancer ko control kar sakte hain. Main apni mummy ka nahi kara saka, lekin aapke ird‑gird jo mahilaayein hain unke liye zaroor soch sakte hain, samajh sakte hain.” (Ovarian cancer can be controlled. I couldn’t do it for my mother, but you can definitely think about and take care of the women around you.)
He dedicated that episode to all women in India, turning his personal grief into a public service—asking families to pay attention to subtle changes in a woman’s health and to insist on timely medical check‑ups.
A Heartbreaking Farewell in 2018
When Vijaylaxmi Khandelwal passed away on May 16, 2018, Rajeev shared the news with his fans through a deeply moving post on social media. He wrote, “My mom passed away day before yesterday after a year n a half long fight with cancer. We fought together, we hoped together but we couldn’t come out of it together. I and my family are fine and have come to terms wth it. She now lives within me.”
Over the years, he has spoken about his mother’s courage and dignity through treatment, saying that she never let her illness define her spirit.
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A post shared by Rajeev Khandelwal (@simplyrajeev)
Back on TV After a Long Gap
Tum Ho Naa marks a significant return for Rajeev to the television screen after nearly a decade. He first became a household name with the romantic series Kahiin To Hoga, where his portrayal of Sujal won over millions of viewers and turned him into a youth icon.
He later worked on other popular TV shows like Left Right Left and Reporters, and then moved on to films and OTT projects such as Aamir (his Bollywood debut), Shaitan, Soundtrack, Table No. 21, and Samrat & Co., along with series like Time Bomb 9/11 and Sun Leyna.
By combining his star power with a heartfelt health message on Tum Ho Naa, Rajeev has turned his personal loss into a powerful reminder: early detection, awareness, and care can make all the difference in the fight against ovarian cancer.
