"I am saddened. My prayers are with her. She will return shortly," Huma told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Sonali, 43, took to her social media profiles Twitter and Instagram yesterday to break the news that she had been diagnosed with high-grade cancer that has metastasised.
Akshay Kumar met Sonali Bendre in New York after hearing about her cancer diagnosis
Huma said she had grown up watching movies of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in 1990s and (late) Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit-Nene are her role models.
Responding to a query on the condition of women in the society, the actress said a movement should be started from every home to ensure that women members get the respect they deserved.
"I feel that we should empower our mothers, daughters and wives at home. If we start treating them in a fair manner, I feel, it would bring a change. This is not a big task," she added.