Actress Manisha Koirala, a 55-year-old ovarian cancer survivor, has shared a candid message urging women to embrace menopause with strength and self-care rather than fear, posting her thoughts on Instagram on 17 October 2026. The Dil Se star encouraged women to understand their shifting physiology and prioritise their well-being during this life stage.

What Manisha Said

Koirala addressed the wide-ranging impact of hormonal changes that accompany menopause, noting effects on bones, muscles, sleep, mood, and metabolism. 'Menopause is not the end of our strength — it's a new chapter of taking care of ourselves. Hormonal changes can challenge our bones, muscles, sleep, mood and metabolism. But we can meet this phase with strength, not fear,' she wrote in her post.

She also laid out a practical framework for navigating the transition, urging women to incorporate strength training, eat nutritiously, and rest without shame. 'Lift weights. Eat well and nourish your body. Rest without guilt. Listen to yourself and seek support when needed,' she added.

Acceptance Over Resistance

Central to Koirala's message was the idea of working with the body rather than against it. 'We don't have to fight our changing bodies. We have to work with them,' she wrote — a sentiment she reinforced with a gym video shared alongside the post, in which she was seen lifting dumbbells and performing chest exercises dressed in white sports athleisure.

Concluding on an affirmative note, the Khamoshi: The Musical actress wrote, 'This chapter can be our strongest yet.'

A Voice for Women's Health

This is not the first time Koirala has spoken openly about menopause and age-related changes. The actress, who survived ovarian cancer, has increasingly used her platform to normalise conversations around women's health that are often considered taboo in mainstream Indian discourse. Her willingness to discuss menopause publicly is notable in a cultural context where the subject is frequently met with silence.

Notably, awareness around menopause in India has been growing, with health advocacy groups calling for greater workplace and medical support for women going through the transition. Koirala's post adds a prominent celebrity voice to that conversation.

Career and Recent Work

Koirala is best known for her acclaimed performances in films including 1942: A Love Story, Bombay, Khamoshi: The Musical, and Dil Se. She was most recently seen in the lead role of Mallikajaan in director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2024 Netflix period drama series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Her continued visibility in both entertainment and wellness conversations signals a broadening of her public presence beyond screen work.