Malayalam star Jewel Mary on surviving divorce and cancer: ‘I fought for four years and won...'

Actor and television presenter Jewel Mary opened up about the past turbulent years from cancer to divorce, and how it impacted her emotionally and financially.

Jewel Mary married Jenson Zachariah, a programme producer, in 2015 in what she described as an “arranged-and -love marriage.” The couple separated in 2021, with the divorce finalised in 2024. Jewel revealed that it was far from easy, calling it a hard-fought legal battle she eventually won. “I fought a lot to get there. I have heard many people say that divorce is easy. But for me, it wasn’t like that. I won after a hard fight. I fought for this for three to four years. If it’s a mutual divorce, you can get it in six months. I tried for a long time to get a mutual divorce, but it didn’t happen. In the end, it was a hard-won divorce. So you can call it a battle,” she told Dhanya Varma, an Indian journalist and talk-show host.

Finally free, Jewel embraced life with a month-long solo trip across the UK and Ireland, celebrating her birthday in London before returning home ready to resume work. Her health challenges added another layer of difficulty. “I had a thyroid problem for seven years. My weight would change suddenly. Along with that, there was internal trauma, stress and PCOD. I went for a regular check-up one day. There were no other problems. When I coughed, a lot of phlegm would come out. I would always be clearing my throat. Since I am a presenter, I have to use my voice all the time. I thought that was the problem.”

She explained how the doctors suggested that she should do a scan. Explaining that she has studied Bsc Nursing, she understood what was happening. “My legs started to get cold. Their faces started to change. Then they said they would do a biopsy. My leg wouldn’t move. They were frozen. I said no out of fear,” she says. She recounted how a scan and subsequent biopsies hinted at cancer. Despite understanding the gravity of the situation, she stayed strong for her family while awaiting confirmation from a second biopsy. “When the second result came, I knew I was in trouble,” Jewel recalled.

In February, Jewel underwent a seven-hour surgery that left her voice gone and her left hand weak, requiring months of physiotherapy. Using all her savings for treatment, she was overjoyed when her six-month review confirmed she was cancer-free, though she will continue six-monthly check-ups.

Jewel first rose to fame as the co-host of the hit reality show D4 Dance, before transitioning into cinema. She played the female lead opposite Malayalam Mammootty in back-to-back films Utopiayile Rajavu and Pathemari. She later appeared in Ore Mukham, Thrissivaperoor Kliptham, Annadurai, Njan Marykutty, Maamanithan, Paappan, Kshanikam, Antony, and A Ranjith Cinema. Her most recent appearance was in Get-Set Baby.