New Article on SRK

-By Adri Huysamen

We have heard several stories about how superstars have influenced people's lives, but here's a unique one which will bring a sparkle to your eye.

In 1995 at the age of one, a happy and healthy baby boy, Suneet Anand was diagnosed with a rare condition called Retinoblastoma (Cancer of the Retina). His doctors said the only option was to remove his eyeball.

His parents could not accept this and took Suneet to a specialist in Germany where their baby boy underwent excruciatingly painful treatment to his eye.

The radiation however burns the lens along with the cancer and a cataract formed. At the age of four his lens was replaced with an artificial one.

Since his eye was blind for so many years the nerves from the brain to the eye did not develop and it died. The only treatment that had a chance of working was "occlusion therapy". This meant regularly closing the good eye and forcing the bad eye to try to see. The doctors did not have much hope and said that only a very slight recovery was possible.

At this time four year old Suneet's parents noticed that he was mesmerized by Shahrukh Khan. He would stare at him on TV,posters or in magazinesfor hours and he would even copy the famous SRK pose.

One day, while little Suneet watched Shahrukh Khan on TV, the normally happy little boy started crying uncontrollably. He told his parents that SRK had died! The little boy was heartbroken. His parents could not console him and had to drive him to the nearest cinema (30km away) so that Suneet could see SRK on screen and know that he was still alive and "the death scene was only an act".

Source: veritenews.com

This fascination with Shahrukh Khan gave Suneet's mother Vichitra Anand (a psychologist) a great idea. She told Suneet that she would take him to watch a SRK movie on the big screen every day. The 1st day he could watch it normally, but the following times he could only watch it with his "blind eye". Suneet immediately agreed. Thereafter, every day after pre-nursery, Suneet and his mom would set of to the theatre 30km away. She would blindfold Suneet's good eye and Suneet would watch the SRK movie with only his "blind eye".

In 6 months Suneet's vision became 6/6, a full recovery, and the doctor could not believe it!

But after 2 years of seeing normally complications set in and regular lasering had to be done on the eye. Sadly, in 2012, Suneet's retina completely tore and surgery was done to try to save it. Suneet was put on a course of heavy steroids and was not allowed to do any form of exercise, no jerky movements or even airplane travel was allowed. Suneet had to go for constant eye tests and always lived in fear of getting bad news.

Despite these serious medical problems Suneet remains a star student and is currently studying Law.

In January2015 Suneet's parents brought him to Mumbai for a holiday and to visit his actor uncle Manish Chaudhari (Rocket Singh, Bombay Velvet, Mohenjo Daro).

Knowing Suneet's love for Shahrukh Khan, Manish contacted a friend, Akshat Kapil (Script supervisor and Associate director at Yash Raj Films) who was working on "Fan" and told him about Suneet. Akshat shared Suneet's unique story with SRK who immediately said that he would love to meet this brave young fan.

Source: tumblr

As a surprise Suneet was taken to the set of "Fan" at Filmistan Studio in Mumbai and only five minutes before meeting his idol Suneet was told that SRK wanted to meet him. Suneet was in shock and this normally articulate young man was speechless.

Suneet said: "I am so glad that you warned me a few minutes before meeting him, or I might have fainted." Asking Suneet what he and his idol SRK spoke about Suneet replies: "I really can not remember a single word either of us said, the moment was too big."

Suneet says: "Shahrukh Khan has always inspired me. He leads the way with his positive attitude and life story. I admire his fantastic sense of humour, even in the face of difficulties he will crack a joke. SRK never gives up and neither will I."

SRK said:"I was very happy to meet Suneet and hear his story. I was very touched by it."

Suneet returned to Delhi to celebrate his 21'st birthday feeling that he had just experienced the most wonderful moment of his life, but more good news was to come. On his scheduled visit to AIIMS, after his momentous Mumbai trip, an eye test revealed that, for the first time ever, Suneet's eye was clear! The Doctor was in shock.

Is this the famous Shahrukh Khan effect we hear of so often? Maybe...

We know that Suneet's cancer recovery was a due to the treatment he received in Germany & India combined with his mother's selfless & unconditional love over 21 years, but one cannot doubt that Suneet's love for SRK gave him the will to see. After all if you ask for something with all your heart, the universe will conspire to give it to you. It's like that famous SRK line from Om Shanti Om: "Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho to puri kainat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai."