Deepika’s reaction to Salman’s ‘depression is a luxury’ comment is commendable

Deepika Padukone is not just a fine actress, but perhaps one of the first few people in Bollywood, who came out and actively confessed of being depressed. The actress spoke about having suffered from depression, at various platforms, and even has a foundation ‘Live Laugh Love’ which seeks to counsel and counter mental illness and its adverse effects.

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It is not easy coming out with mental health issues, but she did it and became the public voice of many who started coming out with their own cases.

That being said, if there are celebs who are actively using their status to speak on causes that matter, there are also some who go the ignorant way. One of them is Salman Khan, who in the past too has been known to be casual with his words. Though he may not mean it, but he certainly has slightly vexatious approach towards even the most serious matters, and the same happened when recently, at an event, on being asked about depression, he said that he did not have the ‘luxury to be depressed’. We are sure that Salman meant that he is so busy that he does not have time to ponder over many things, but this definitely did not go down with many. (Also Read: Dear Salman, Rape, Depression and what not. Please try and end your callous ignorance)

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However, at a recent event, Deepika gracefully buffed that statement, never going aggressive. The actress said, “When we were talking about more celebrities coming out and speaking and when we were talking about stigma, there is a lot of miscommunication that depression happens to people who are successful. I want to clarify that it can happen to anybody from any field. There is a perception that it happens to big (popular) people who are successful. It is sometimes perceived as luxury… (But) It is important to break that myth.”

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Now that’s what we call a perfect answer, in a respectful manner. More power to you, Deepika.

Kadambari Srivastava

Grammar Nazi, word weaver, dreamer, bibliophile, technophile, caffeine addict, foodie, shuttling shopaholic! Mash it in a Bollywood recipe and voila! Pushpa, you’ve got her!