In a heartfelt appearance on Pariksha Pe Charcha, an initiative aimed at promoting mental health awareness, actress Deepika Padukone candidly discussed her personal struggles with depression and her journey toward recovery. She spoke about enduring long periods of silent suffering while living in Mumbai with her mother being the first to detect that something was amiss, “I transitioned from school to sports, then modeling, and eventually acting. I kept pushing myself until, in 2014, I suddenly fainted. It was only later that I realised I was struggling with depression. The thing about depression is that it’s invisible – you can’t always see it. There might be people around us battling anxiety or depression, yet we may never know because, on the outside, they seem happy and normal.”
Reflecting on a pivotal moment, Deepika shared her harrowing experiences of suicidal thoughts and the contemplation of ending her life. She stated, “When my mother came to see me in Mumbai on the day she was leaving for Bangalore, I suddenly broke down. My family asked me all sorts of questions about my work, but all I could say was, ‘I don’t know. I just feel helpless and hopeless. ‘Mujhe jeena hi nahi hai’ (I don’t want to live).’ Thankfully, my mother recognised the signs and suggested I see a psychologist. In our country, mental health carries a stigma, making it difficult to talk about. But as soon as I started speaking about it, I felt lighter. Anxiety, stress and depression can affect anyone, and talking about it truly eases the burden.”
In happier news, Deepika Padukone and her husband Ranveer Singh celebrated the arrival of their first child, a daughter named Dua, in September 2024.
