The air in Goa is very healing: Nafisa Ali Sodhi

For veteran actress Nafisa Ali Sodhi, the battle with cancer has been as much about resilience as it has been about rediscovery. First diagnosed in 2018, she made a life-altering decision — to leave behind the bustle of Delhi and return to her roots in Goa, a place she now calls her sanctuary. “The air here is very healing,” she says, reflecting on a move that coincided with one of the toughest phases of her life. A LIFE RECLAIMED IN NATURE Today, Nafisa lives in Camurlim, a quiet village about 10 km from Mapusa. Her home, surrounded by lush greenery, has transformed into a thriving ecosystem. Birds, monkeys, reptiles, and even snakes are frequent visitors. “I’ve planted so many trees that it feels like a jungle. It attracts wildlife, and I love it. It’s home to so many beings,” she says with a smile. For Nafisa, this deep connection with nature has been instrumental in her recovery. The greenery, fresh air, and slower pace of life have become her silent healers. A DEEP-ROOTED GOAN CONNECTION Her bond with Goa is not just recent—it is ancestral. “My great-grandmother was Goan,” she shares. “I don’t know if I have any relatives still living here. My great-grandmother married an Englishman from the British Railways. When he passed away, he was laid to rest on church property in Ranthambore, Rajasthan. I made sure to take my mother and aunt to visit his grave. It was a very emotional journey for us,” she recounts.HEALING BY THE SEA After being diagnosed with stage 3 peritoneal cancer, she underwent chemotherapy and surgery in 2018, which left her extremely weak. She moved to Goa to recover, staying in a beach cottage in Ashwem built by her daughter, Armana Sodhi, and son-in-law, Adil Akoi. “I would walk to the beach every day—that’s where my healing began,” she recalls. What started as short, difficult walks gradually became longer ones, eventually stretching from Ashwem to Morjim. At Morjim, a cross on the beach became her source of strength. “It gave me the courage to keep going,” she says. When Cyclone Tauktae washed it away, she wrote letters and made repeated appeals until it was restored. STRENGTH IN FAMILY Through every setback, one constant has been her family. “My family is phenomenal; they are my biggest supporters,” she says. In a touching effort to normalise her illness for her grandchildren, Nafisa involved them in her journey. She asked them to help shave her head during chemotherapy—a gesture that turned a painful moment into one of bonding and understanding. “Now even the younger ones have done it, so they don’t feel left out,” she says, adding, “My doctors, too, have become like friends.”A ‘COMET’ IN CINEMA Despite her health challenges, Nafisa remains passionate about her work. “I appear very rarely. Right now, no one will cast me without hair, but I’ll wait for it to grow,” she says. She had signed two films but had to step away due to her treatment. Yet, her spirit remains undeterred. “I’m not a star. I’m a comet—I come, I shine, and I go,” says the Junoon and Life In A... Metro actress.