Television actress Dipika Kakar, known for her role in Sasural Simar Ka, is undergoing surgery for stage 2 liver cancer, her husband and co-star Shoaib Ibrahim has confirmed.

Dipika, 28, was diagnosed with the illness last week after experiencing abdominal pain in May. The diagnosis followed a series of tests that revealed a tennis ball-sized tumour in her liver.

On Monday night, Shoaib shared an update via Instagram Stories, saying that Dipika's surgery was scheduled for the next morning and would be a lengthy procedure. He asked fans to pray for her strength and recovery. "She needs your prayers now more than ever," he wrote.

Earlier, in a vlog posted on May 15 on his official YouTube channel, Shoaib had discussed her medical condition, saying they were awaiting results to determine if the tumour was cancerous. That confirmation came on May 28, when Dipika herself shared the news on Instagram.

“It started with pain in my upper stomach and ended with the discovery of a tennis ball-sized tumour. Learning that it’s a stage 2 malignant tumour has been one of the toughest phases of our lives,” she wrote. Her surgery was initially delayed due to a high fever.

The couple, who are parents to a two-year-old son named Ruhaan, praised their child’s maturity during the difficult time.

“He’s shown a surprising level of understanding,” Shoaib mentioned in a previous vlog. Dipika also spoke about how Ruhaan had sensed her discomfort. “He knows I’m not well. He comes to me once or twice a day, but then steps back, understanding the situation,” she said, adding that they’re staying strong with the support of family and loved ones.

Source NDTV