Shagufta Ali reflects on receiving ₹5 lakh from Madhuri Dixit on Dance Deewane: 'It was shocking, touching'

Shagufta Ali has opened up about receiving a ₹5 lakh cheque from Madhuri Dixit and the Dance Deewane team, after she spoke about her financial troubles.

Ailing actor Shagufta Ali has opened up about the noble gesture that Madhuri Dixit and the team of Dance Deewane extended towards her, after she spoke about her illness and the subsequent financial turmoil it had fuelled. Madhuri Dixit presented Shagufta with a cheque of ₹5 lakh in a recent episode of the reality show.

Shagufta Ali visited Dance Deewane recently.

In an interview, Shagufta Ali said that she was touched by the outpouring of support that she has received since coming out about her troubles.

"I was invited by Colors to come on the stage and talk about my life and issues I was facing," she told indianexpress.com. "Firstly, I am a huge fan of the talent on the show and was so excited to meet all of them. To be back in front of the camera was another temptation, and then I thought maybe I would be able to reach more people if I share my ordeal on the platform. It was so shocking for me when I was given the cheque. I couldn’t find words to even react."

Last week, Shagufta said in an interview with a leading daily that she had to sell off her valuables to make ends meet. She is best known for having appeared in the TV show Saans. "I started facing issues in the last 4 years as work reduced. There was less work, so somehow I tried to manage things on my own by selling off my car and jewellery. I somehow managed to handle things in the first 2/3 years but now in the last 1 year things have been very difficult as I have exhausted all my savings," she had said.

It has since been revealed that her Saans co-star Neena Gupta, filmmaker Rohit Shetty, and actor Johny Lever have provided her with financial aid.