The Week India – July 21, 2019

THE WEEK • JULY 21, 2019 33

PLUS

Two years later, in 2008, he was planning to
undergo surgery to remove the plates that
were placed near his eyes, in the aftermath
of the 2006 accident. The doctor wanted to
ensure that he was fit enough for the
surgery, so asked him to undergo some
scans and tests. Says Arun, “He must have
suspected something and recommended a
biopsy. When the reports came, he advised
me to go to a specialist in Bengaluru. I
looked at the report and it said I had
adenocarcinoma.”

“I was staying with a friend from the
television industry in Bengaluru, discussing
ideas for a few scripts. I started to do some
online research before meeting the doctor.
That’s when I realized I had colon cancer.
My initial reaction was one of shock and
disbelief. But then I decided to fight it out.”

And the Journey Begins.

He made an appointment with a leading
oncologist in Bengaluru, following which
another biopsy was done, and the initial
diagnosis was confirmed. He didn’t reveal it
to his family immediately.

While undergoing treatment, he was
surrounded by them and his friends. “Every
evening, a bunch of people across age
groups and interests – students, family
members, and friends from the television
and film fraternity – visited me.”

The last thing he wanted to do was to
disappear into a cocoon of self-pity. He
continued with his work. He designed a
commercial building for popular Kannada
director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar. He

helped a few others develop scripts for

productions. All this right from his hospital

bed.

Arun’s positivity, the happy evenings, the

treatment - aided his recovery. The tumour

in the colon went into remission in just six

months. He was asked to come back after a

month for a final session of radiation to get

rid of any probable residual tumour growth.

“Even though I barely had any hair and

looked weak, my friends were super elated

and they hosted a party for me. But, a year

later, there was a recurrence. After

consulting doctors, I decided to get my

colon removed.”

In the Service of Others.

It is to fulfil this dream that he instituted the

Geleyaru Trust. Through this, he reaches

out to deserving students from less

privileged backgrounds and sponsors their

education. He also helps patients who are

unable to fund their treatment. He is an

active member of several local

not-for-profit organisations, where he helps

plan events, works on strategy and

produces awareness programmes.

His energetic voice, his enthusiasm, his

ability to multi-task and accomplish so

many tasks in a day give no indication of

the challenges he has faced. “I have battled

cancer, and there’s nothing that it has taken

away from me. There is this misconception

that cancer will kill you. Many equate it with

death, and I think we need to change that

narrative.”