The 4th edition of RoboGynIndia 2025, held at the Taj Santacruz, Mumbai on August 2–3, brought together pioneers in robotic gynecological surgery under the theme "Robotic Surgery in Gynecology – Redefining Boundaries." The conference showcased India’s expanding capabilities in robotic surgical techniques while fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Organised by the Association of Gynecological Robotic Surgeries (AGRS) in partnership with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, the conference was inaugurated by Tina Ambani, Chairperson of the hospital. It was sponsered by Vattikutti Foundation, who strenthened its strategic alliance with AGRS by recognising and encouraging emerging talent in the field.
The event also welcomed Sonali Bendre- actor, author, pet lover, and cancer survivor- as Guest of Honour. Her presence and personal story added a deeply human dimension to the high-tech discussions, reminding attendees of the patient-centric goals behind medical innovation. The 2 doctors who treated her during her Cancer, Dr. Mario and Dr. Yogesh Kulkarni were also a part of this event and she thanked them for giving her 'second innings' at life.
Sonali on going public with her cancer journey
Bendre, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2018, took the stage to speak about her decision to go public with her illness. In a conversation with The Free Press Journal, she recalled, “When I was diagnosed with cancer, nobody spoke about the big 'C' word. I didn’t realise it was so common. When I put it out, so many people reached out to me who were going through it or had someone who had gone through it.”
She emphasised the power of visibility and dialogue. “People didn’t want to acknowledge cancer and thought of it as an illness they needed to suffer through in private. But it’s not my fault that I got it- so why hide it from the world?” she asked. By choosing to speak openly, Bendre hoped to dismantle the stigma surrounding cancer and empower others to do the same. “If you look back now, seven years down the line, nobody is calling it the ‘C word’ anymore. Everyone is calling it what it is,” she added.
The fear will always be there, says Sonali
Addressing the ongoing fear of relapse, Sonali admitted that anxiety remains. “The fear is always there, and I won’t deny that. But I do the scans, I stay on top of it,” she said. Urging everyone to prioritise regular health check-ups, she stressed that early detection could be lifesaving. “The problem with me was I detected it late- in the fourth stage -and it shouldn’t have gone that far. You have today, go through your check-ups regularly. You can catch it early, treat it early, and you can definitely survive it.”
RoboGynIndia 2025 not only highlighted technological advancements but also reinforced the essential connection between innovation and human resilience. With leaders like Sonali Bendre sharing their stories, the conference became a platform not just for surgical progress, but for healing conversations.
