Vivek Oberoi's adopted daughter Sahara Shah beats cancer and signs her first film

Vivek Oberoi broke down at a Mumbai event this week as the little girl he once watched fight cancer stepped on stage to sign her first film. Sahara Shah, now 22, is cancer-free, has completed her aviation training, and is set to become a commercial pilot. She is also going to be a lead actress.

Vivek adopted Sahara when she was just two and a half years old and brought her to the Cancer Patients Aid Association in Mumbai, an organisation that focuses on complete cancer care for patients who cannot afford treatment. Over the years he has adopted and supported several children fighting cancer, paying not only for their treatment but also for their education and professional training. He has two biological children with wife Priyanka Alva, son Vivaan Veer Oberoi, 13, and daughter Ameyaa Nirvana Oberoi, 11.

The moment came at the Cancer Rose Day event on Tuesday. Sahara first told Vivek she had finished her aviation training and would see him in Dubai soon, saying there would be no distance between them anymore. Then came the part nobody in the room expected.

"I'm playing a lead actress in a film. It's a Nepali film. I haven't signed yet. I wanted to take your blessing," she said, adding that she had watched him since she was a child and always wanted to follow in his footsteps. The film is scheduled for release next year. She signed it on stage and unveiled its poster while Vivek clapped and hugged her.

Sahara, who calls Vivek "dada", said his support for her acting and dancing gave her the conviction to dream big for herself and her mother, and that he filled the void left by her father. She called the gesture a small thing next to everything he had done for her.

Vivek, fighting tears, told her this was a very proud moment and asked her to fly high in her career. "I saw this two-and-a-half year old girl with red eyes and a pale face undergoing chemotherapy while fighting cancer. I saw the fight in her. The way she held my finger, I knew she would win," he said. He also urged her to help others once she is successful. The moment came weeks after his 50th birthday on September 3, when he adopted 50 more children battling cancer and pledged to fund their full treatment.