Bollywood celebrities may look like they have the perfect life and everything around them is happy-go-lucky. However, this might not be the reality as they are as human as any of us. Many celebrities in India have admitted to having depression and other mental health problems at some point in their life. Most of them, to raise awareness about mental health and normalise seeking help regarding the same. Let’s look at some of them.
Deepika Padukone
One of the faces of Bollywood who has spoken much about mental health, Deepika Padukone has never been one to hide her depression. At its peak in 2014, Deepika was suffering from severe depression and anxiety. Ever since, Deepika became a mental health warrior, starting the Live Love Laugh Foundation that brings mental health into the mainstream.
Actress Deepika Padukone, when she appeared for an interview with NDTV in 2015, shared that depression does not necessarily represent despair. However, it was an inability to wake up and face the day that ultimately led her to the idea of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, for mental health advocacy.
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan has spoken about the fact that he had depression after a minor injury during his shoulder surgery in 2010. He said that he was down and dissociated from his feelings in that period. Even though he didn’t talk much about his bout, he confirmed earlier that he had a bad phase and conquered it.
Anushka Sharma
Anushka Sharma has spoken candidly about suffering from anxiety, while also stating how therapy and medication have helped her keep it at bay. She revealed how anxiety runs in her family, and how one needs to first recognize the problem and seek help.
In 2017, Anushka Sharma was talking frankly to Vogue about her anxiety. “I’ve been under therapy and on medication,” she said. “Therapy has helped me really sort out what is in my head.” She also emphasized the need for an understanding of mental issues and managing them despite the stigma attached.
Karan Johar
Karan Johar said that in an emotional turbulence, he had come under depression and was worrying about anxiety. He admits in his autobiography that he has survived some rough times in his life, tearful, fearful, insecure, and lonely. It was therapy and medication that really made him heal. The acclaimed filmmaker was candid about his battle with depression in his memoir, An Unsuitable Boy. He discussed his frequent anxiety attacks and frankly spoke of professional help to regulate the emotional mayhem on a news channel.
Ileana D’Cruz
Among other issues, Ileana D’Cruz has spoken about her battles with body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. She shared this story with the hope that it might help others who might have been living a similar experience. She believes that it’s very advisable to seek professional help and stop being ashamed of these mental health struggles.
Bollywood celebrities in India such as Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Karan Johar, and Ileana D’Cruz have been vocal in dealing with mental health issues for de-stigmatizing depression and anxiety. Through their encounters, they have come out to explain the importance of acknowledgement of a mental illness and seeking professional attention, motivating others for the same purpose and raising awareness.
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