Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Rakesh Roshan opens up on daughter Sunaina's alcoholism, cancer battle
Sunaina Roshan makes videos with her dad, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, on Instagram.
In one video, she asked him what he was thinking when she was very sick.
He told her he felt helpless and often wanted to cry.
But he always smiled when he saw her so she would feel strong.
Sunaina then said she did the same thing when her dad got cancer.
She would cry in her room, then practice smiling in the mirror before seeing him.
Sunaina has also talked about having a problem with alcohol, which she says was the hardest time of her life.
Drinking started as a way to feel better but made things worse.
With her family's help, she went to a special center for 28 days to get better.
She says the strength to fight illness has to come from inside you.
In the latest episode of her Instagram series 'Dad & I Unfiltered,' Sunaina Roshan asked her father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, what he felt when her health was at its worst.
Rakesh said he felt helpless, prayed silently, and sometimes had tears in his eyes, but always smiled to give her courage.
Sunaina revealed she hid her own grief when Rakesh was diagnosed with cancer, sobbing privately and practicing smiling in the mirror before facing him.
Sunaina previously called her battle with alcoholism 'the worst phase of my life,' saying it began as a way to numb emotional pain and became a vicious cycle.
With her family's support, Sunaina spent 28 days at a rehabilitation centre, which marked the beginning of her recovery journey.
- Who
- Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and his daughter Sunaina Roshan.
- What
- An emotional father-daughter conversation about Sunaina's struggles with alcoholism, cancer and other health issues, and how each hid their grief to support the other.
- When
- The latest episode of Sunaina's Instagram series 'Dad & I Unfiltered'; Sunaina's alcoholism interview took place last year.
- Where
- Instagram (the 'Dad & I Unfiltered' series); Sunaina's recovery took place at a rehabilitation centre.
- Why
- To share their experiences of battling illness and addiction and to highlight the importance of inner strength and a positive attitude.
- Father-Daughter Conversation
- Rakesh and Sunaina Roshan on the Instagram series 'Dad & I Unfiltered'
- Sunaina's struggles
- Alcoholism, cancer, health complications and body shaming
- Rakesh's diagnosis
- Cancer, revealed during the conversation
- Rehabilitation
- 28 days at a rehabilitation centre
- Sunaina on alcoholism
- 'The worst phase of my life'
- Alcoholism interview
- Conducted last year by Siddharth Kannan
- Platform