Deepika Padukone appeared on 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' and shared about her struggle with depression. Read to learn more.
Deepika Padukone is one of the top actresses in Bollywood today. Recently, she appeared in the eighth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, during which she had candid conversations with students and discussed the importance of mental health. The actress shared her own battle with depression and how her mother played a pivotal role in getting her the help she needed.
Pariksha Pe Charcha is an initiative started by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to spread awareness about mental health. For this segment of the show, the Prime Minister invited actress Deepika Padukone to converse with students, as the actress is one of the most vocal celebrities about mental health and her journey in it. During the conversation, she opened up about her battle with depression and revealed how she overcame it.
It was during the session that Deepika shared her mental health journey. The actress revealed that she hadn't talked about her feelings for a long time and that living alone in Mumbai made it even harder. She revealed how, eventually, during one of her family's visits, her mother, Ujjala Padukone saw certain signs and how she encouraged Deepika to get the help she needed. The actress recalled how, during a time when depression and anxiety were considered a stigma, her mother became her rock and helped her get better. 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.' Thankfully, my mother recognized 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 the same conversation, Deepika Padukone revealed how she often felt suicidal and wanted to end her life. She shared how she jumped between career options, from sports to modelling and eventually acting. Deepika also shared about how she pushed herself to the point where she fainted. Reflecting on the nature of mental illnesses, the actress stated:
"I transitioned from school to sports, then modelling, and eventually acting. I kept pushing myself until, in 2014, I suddenly fainted. It was only later that I realized 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."
After Deepika Padukone got the help she needed, she decided to be vocal about her journey and offer help to those in need. She became a strong advocate for mental health awareness through her Live Love Laugh Foundation. Apart from sharing her personal experience with mental illness, she also gave children tips on battling depression.
What are your thoughts on her revelations?
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