It was during the shooting of his upcoming directorial Antim: The Final Truth that Mahesh Manjrekar was detected with cancer. Interestingly, the filmmaker continued to shoot the film as he battled through the disease. As he arrived for the trailer launch of his film, starring Aayush Sharma and Salman Khan, the latter opened up about the director and how his passion for films drove him to work even during his tough times.

Salman said, “He didn’t tell us before. As soon as he finished a part of the shoot he got himself operated.”

Talking about shooting for the film while battling cancer, Mahesh said, ” I have lost 35 kilos. It was during the shooting of the last portions of Antim that I was diagnosed with cancer. But today I am cancer free.”

He added, “I was lucky that the chemotherapy didn’t affect me. I was going through chemotherapy through the shoot. Later I underwent surgery. It is my passion towards work that drove me. When I got to know I have cancer, it didn’t shock me. I know there are so many people who have cancer and they fight and survive.”

As they released the trailer of the film at a multiplex in Mumbai, Salman hoped that good times will be back for cinema halls. “There is no alternative to big screen. Did you feel the chairs moving with music? So you see, small phones can never be alternative to the cinema hall (experience).”