In a heartwarming display of friendship that could rival any Bollywood script, veteran actress Tannishtha Chatterjee received the ultimate send-off from her star-studded girl gang as she prepares to showcase her directorial debut “Full Plate” at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival.
Shabana Azmi captured the celebration on Instagram, sharing group photos featuring Tannishtha alongside Urmila Matondkar, Sandhya Mridul, Shahana Goswami, and Divya Dutta. The images radiate pure joy, showing the actresses sharing hearty laughs together, while a video reveals Tannishtha cutting a celebratory cake as her friends cheer enthusiastically.
About Tannishtha Chatterjee Cancer Journey
What makes this celebration extraordinary is the context: Tannishtha completed her film’s post-production while battling stage 4 oligo metastatic cancer, earning her the affectionate nickname “Tiger Tan” from her support network.
Shabana Azmi’s caption perfectly encapsulated the sentiment: “To Tiger Tan as she heads to Busan International Film Festival with her directorial venture which she completed during her cancer treatment. You rock of Gibraltar.”
Sisterhood in Action
During a media interview, Tannishtha revealed the depth of her friends’ support throughout her medical journey. “They have been taking turns to come to the hospital. Shabana ji came to the hospital many times. Tanvi came so many times. Urmila and Divya also came. Everyone came. They have been visiting me regularly,” she shared.
The support extended beyond her famous friends. “Dipti Gupta, a very well-known cinematographer, she has been such a rock-solid support, she has come so many times. Sanjay Suri, a very dear friend of mine… has come. He has also been a caregiver to his mum,” Tannishtha explained.
Organized Care Network – Tiger Tan
Perhaps most touching was how her friends self-organized their support. “For every chemo cycle, there were two-three people who would divide hours among themselves. They figured it out on their own. I was not telling people. They formed groups and have been there with me throughout. It felt wonderful,” she revealed.
“Full Plate,” starring Kirti Kulhari with Monica Dogra, Sharib Hashmi, and Indraneil Sengupta, premieres at Busan International Film Festival 2025, representing triumph over adversity through unwavering friendship.
