Several Bollywood celebrities have shared about their battles with anxiety, depression, trauma and more. Their stories have not only broken the stigma but also inspired millions to prioritise emotional wellness. Here are 5 Bollywood celebrities who faced mental health challenges.
Deepika Padukone: The actress once revealed about her battle with clinical depression. Despite outward success, she experienced intense emptiness, anxiety and hopelessness. In an old interview with Vogue, she said, “It was the most painful thing I have gone through – not just for me, but also for my caregivers. Everyday, it takes work to make sure that I don’t have a relapse and slip into it again. But maybe because I have healed, I am now able to say that I’m grateful for the experience because it made me a better person. I learnt a lot from it and it gave me the ability to impact the lives of millions of other people. It allowed me to find my true calling.” (Image: Instagram/@deepikapadukone)
Shah Rukh Khan: The actor reportedly internalised grief and emotional trauma for years after losing both his parents at a young age. In multiple interviews, he has spoken about going through phases of deep sadness and mentioned getting immersed in work to avoid emotional breakdowns. (Image: Instagram/@iamsrk)
Anushka Sharma: The actress opened up about her anxiety disorder, stressing that mental illness is as real as physical illness. She admitted to seeking professional help and spoke out to normalise therapy. (Image: Instagram/@anushkasharma)
Ileana D’Cruz: She revealed her long-term struggles with body dysmorphia and severe depression at the 21st World Congress of Mental Health in New Delhi. The actress shared, “Imperfections are a part of life, and one should learn to love who you are. You are a human being and are allowed to be imperfect, and you are allowed to be flawed. There is a lot of beauty in your imperfections, in your uniqueness.” (Image: Instagram/@ileana_official)
Varun Dhawan: The actor developed symptoms of anxiety during the making of Badlapur. Speaking to BollySpice, the actor said, “I was depressed. I was not clinically declared depressed but I was heading there. I was very sad to a certain degree. I don’t want to use the term ‘depression’ loosely because it is a serious illness. It definitely affected my mental health. I was prescribed and did see a doctor for it as well.” (File Photo)
