However, in recent times some personalities from Bollywood have begun to speak out against the silence around mental health. Through sharing their own struggles with anxiety, depression among other challenges related to psychological condition; these luminaries inspire others to seek treatment thus reducing the stigma associated with the issue of mental disturbance. Here are some Bollywood celebrities who bravely share about their journey through mental illness.
1. Shraddha Kapoor
Shraddha Kapoor, in a discussion of her movie Stree’s success in 2018, opened up about her fight with anxiety. Three to four years before she had admitted struggling with unexplained physical discomfort since the release of Aashiqui 2 around 2013, Shraddha Kapoor disclosed that she had been living with anxiety for four years. Shraddha explains that anxiety is something not to be fought against but rather embraced as oneself. Her journey from confusion to acceptance shows us that understanding and handling anxiety can lead to personal growth.
2. Ileana D’Cruz
Ileana D’Cruz has been open about her struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), depression and anxiety. For this reason, Ileana attributes her ability to come through these bad times to the constant care and love from her family and friends. She urges others who feel unwell to ask for help and work towards removing mental health stigma within society today. The notion behind Ileana is that by speaking openly about issues related to mental health will result in a more compassionate healthier society.
3. Hrithik Roshan
Roshan has spoken out openly about his own experiences with mental health challenges, including depression and confusion, urging people to understand that there are also serious concerns for mental ill health and they need care. During challenging situations, he believes it is necessary to remain sober-minded and soliciting non-judgmental opinions can help one counter negative thoughts.
4. Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt has experienced many obstacles such as the passing away of his mother and wife due to cancer, incarceration, as well as being diagnosed with stage three cancer in 2020. These episodes pushed him into suffering from depression; however, Sanjay’s determination helped him weather these trying moments of his life. He has recounted his story of resilience while focusing on the importance of bouncing back stronger after facing adversity.
5. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone has been a pioneer in spreading awareness about mental health in India. Her foundation – Live Love Laugh was started after her battle with depression to help others. Inspiring many, Deepika’s openness about her journey with mental illness which began from scratch and led to the final recovery of her life has caused many persons to come out and get assistance. She is of the opinion that there is always hope and she is a symbol of hope for people who are going through tough times.
6. Honey Singh
Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh shared his struggle with bipolar disorder and alcoholism as a black time in his life. After taking an 18-month break from his career, he returned to the public eye to raise awareness about mental health. The story of Honey Singh highlights the importance of early detection and management of mental health problems.
Karan Johar
Karan Johar, the film director has also opened up about his depression and struggle with anxiety. He said that he went through struggles because of some unresolved internal strife while seeing a shrink made all the difference for him. Karan talks about the significance of discussing mental health matters with family members and professionals since it can lead to healing and better comprehension.
Rubina Dilaik
Her ordeal regarding anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts were shared on national television by Big Boss 14winner Rubina Dilaik,. She spoke about how these challenges affected her interpersonal relationships, as well as her confusion at what was happening due to the social undesirability of discussing mental health issues. Through yoga and meditation she managed to regain control of her life.
These Bollywood celebrities have shown immense courage in sharing their mental health struggles, helping to break the stigma and encourage others to seek help. In fact, they remind us that our mental well-being is as important as our physical fitness; therefore it is crucial that we are open about this issue. By doing so, we create a more supportive and understanding society where every person can thrive in life.