6 December 2012 Last updated at 06:40 ET

Bollywood's Manisha Koirala is diagnosed with cancer

Manisha Koirala will have surgery in the US

Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and will have surgery in the US.

Speculation about the health of the star mounted last week when she was admitted to a hospital in the city of Mumbai for medical tests.

Media reports said an operation was due to have taken place in New York on Thursday but was delayed until Monday.

In a Facebook post, Koirala, 42, expressed shock at her diagnosis but said she was sure she would recover.

"Dear friends, thank you for all your wishes. I am in good place and in good hands. With all your love and prayers I am sure I'll recover. It was shocking to know, but then life is full of surprises," she wrote.

Born into a prominent family in Nepal, Ms Koirala began her career in 1991. She has appeared in numerous Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam films.

She debuted in Subhash Ghai's Saudagar and recently made a comeback in Ram Gopal Varma's film Bhoot Returns (Ghost Returns).

In 2002, Mumbai police foiled an attempt to kidnap her, during a period when Bollywood stars faced extortion threats from criminals bent on gaining huge sums of money.

Ms Koirala was also involved in a controversy after she complained that a body double was used without her permission in a 2002 Hindi film Ek Chhoti Si Love Story (A Small Love Story).

A court had put the screening on hold after Ms Koirala alleged that her reputation would be damaged if the film was screened.