‘I’m Certainly Not A Quack’: Sonali Bendre Reacts To Backlash Over Her Comment On Autophagy For Cancer Recovery

Bollywood actress and cancer survivor Sonali Bendre recently made a social media post, in which she claimed that naturopathy and ‘autophagy’ helped her in her fight against cancer. Several medical professionals

strongly criticised her post. Hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips, widely known as The Liver Doc, called her out for promoting ‘quackery’. After facing backlash over her remark, Sonali Bendre has now issued a statement. She said that while she never claimed to be a doctor, she is most definitely not a ‘quack’. She further stated that everything she shared was based on her personal experience, and while it made a difference for her, different people may choose different healing paths.

Sonali Bendre Reacts To Backlash Over Her Comments On Autophagy

Sonali Bendre took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a statement responding to the backlash she faced over her autophagy remarks. “I have never claimed to be a doctor, but I am certainly not a quack either. I am a cancer survivor, someone who has lived through the fear, pain, uncertainty, and rebuilding that the disease brings,” she wrote.

Sonali Bendre further added, “Everything I have ever spoken has been my experience and my learning. As I’ve repeatedly said, no two cancers are the same and no treatment path is identical. One of the many protocols I personally explored, after thorough research and medical guidance, was autophagy. It made a difference for me then and continues to do so today, for me.”

“What truly matters is open, respectful dialogue. We don’t all have to agree, but we should avoid dismissing one another simply because we lean toward different approaches. Each person must choose what feels right, safe and empowering for them. I will always share my journey with honesty and humility, never as a prescription, but as a lived experience,” she concluded.

What Was Sonali Bendre’s Post About?

For the unversed, Sonali Bendre recently shared a post on social media in which she wrote, “Back in 2018, when I was diagnosed with cancer, my naturopath introduced me to a study called Autophagy. It played a huge role in my recovery. So I read, learned, experimented… and slowly built it into my routine. And I’ve continued to follow it ever since.”

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A post shared by Sonali Bendre (@iamsonalibendre)

Her comment prompted a strong reaction from Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, aka The Liver Doc, on social media, who wrote, “Dear Ms. Bendre… I expected better from you.” He added that celebrity cancer survivors are an important resource for cancer patients and their families when it comes to science-based therapeutic journeys. “You are not helping here, by promoting quackery,” he wrote.

Dear Ms. Bendre, as a clinician sub-specialist treating a multitude of cancer patients daily, I expected better from you. Cancer-survivors, especially celebrity cancer-survivors are an important asset/ resource for cancer patients and their families when it comes to science… https://t.co/M7KAMbYAXv pic.twitter.com/sJhMtMomlx

— TheLiverDoc™ (@theliverdr) November 22, 2025

The doctor further added, “In 2018, you were diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic endometrial cancer that had spread to other parts of the body. You moved to New York for an intense cancer treatment regimen, including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In 2019, you shared that you had achieved remission, and were officially cancer-free and returned to India. I repeat, your cancer went into remission after chemotherapy, radiation and surgery at an advanced cancer treatment hospital. Not because of Naturopathy. Not because of autophagy. Because you have the option (and privilege) to opt for the best treatments from scientific practice to help you.”