“Keep the Fire in Your Belly Alive”: Manisha Koirala Honoured in Bradford for Turning Adversity into Advocacy

The honour celebrates not only her cinematic legacy but also her transformation into a global advocate for resilience, compassion, and purpose.

Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Koirala rose to fame in the 1990s with powerful performances in films like 1942: A Love Story, Bombay, Khamoshi: The Musical, and Dil Se. But her journey to success was far from smooth.

No dream too big

"A very well-known director was auditioning for a part," she recalled in her speech. "I was in the queue… when my chance came, I performed-and I got the shock of my life. The director said I was a very bad actress. I was shattered. I didn't know how to respond."

Instead of giving up, she went home and read the scene "100 or 200 or 1000 times." The next day, she returned and performed again. "The director got up and clapped. He said, 'If you were zero yesterday, you are 100 today.' That taught me a lesson that you need to put in the hours. Just have that fire in your belly. No dream is too big or too small-just go out there and get it."

Kindness and compassion

This fire would carry her through not only the highs of stardom but also the darkest chapter of her life: a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Her battle with the disease, and her decision to speak about it publicly, transformed her into a beacon of hope for millions.

"During my illness, there was one visitor who stood out-a doctor who came every Sunday," she said. "But she was not my family and yet she came every week and I asked her why she came. She told me, 'So that you do this for someone else.' That was simple, yet profound. Service is not just about giving money to charity. It's about kindness. Compassion. We need to prioritise that."

Koirala's return to the screen after recovery was marked by critically acclaimed roles in Dear Maya, Lust Stories, and Sanju. In 2023, she starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netflix epic Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.

But it was her inner transformation that resonated most with the audience in Bradford.

Passion knows the way

"You don't need to be perfect to begin," she said. "You don't need to be fearless to move forward. In fact, fear could be your best companion. Just stay curious, stay open, and connected to what you love."

Now also an author and motivational speaker, Koirala uses her platform to advocate for mental well-being, health equity, and women's empowerment. Her message to the graduates was clear:

Her closing words were aimed squarely at the assembled graduands. She said:

"Keep the fire in your belly alive. There's an intelligence in your passion-a wisdom that knows the way, even when your mind doesn't. Trust that. Be all in, whatever you do-or don't do it at all. And who knows, one day you might receive a doctorate from the University of Bradford. Keep growing, keep learning, keep shining. The world is yours."