From Deepika Padukone to Anushka Sharma: B-town celebs who opened up on their battle with depression and anxiety

Deepika Padukone on mental health

Deepika Padukone has not only opened up about her battle with depression but she has also has also founded ‘The Live, Love, Laugh Foundation’ to reduce stigma and raise awareness about depression. Back in 2017, sharing her experience, during an event Deepika had said, "“Two years back, my family had come to see me. They were about to leave and I was all alone in my bedroom, curled up. My mother walked in and asked if everything was okay, I said yes. She asked again if it was work or something else that was bothering me, I said no. She asked me so many times that I felt myself choking and I broke into tears….I want to tell my mother that if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you for being with me all through the way. Thank you to my sister, my father and friends who supported me immensely.”

Shah Rukh Khan on mental health

Yes, even the most successful people are equally vulnerable to fall prey to depression and anxiety. Back in 2010, Shah Rukh had suffered a shoulder injury. It was then when the superstar had opened up about getting into depression. "“Due to the shoulder injury, and the suffering, I had got into a depression mode, but now I am out of it. I feel happy and boosted with energy," he was quoted saying.

Hrithik Roshan spoke about mental health

Even our demi god Hrithik has battled depression. In 2016, revealing about his experience of facing similar issues and fighting depression, the actor had said, "I have experienced depression, I have experienced confusion, as we all do. It’s a normal thing. We all go through ups and downs. Millions don’t know they might be suffering from something clinical which is not their fault. It is nothing one should feel awkward about. A knee, elbow, back or neck problems are something we are unapologetic to talk about. But when we are going to go through deep anxiety, depression, chaos, confusion or addictive behaviour and even though we know we are going through it, we don’t allow ourselves to talk about the problems that deal with the brain. It is because we have been conditioned since birth that it is something to feel embarrassed about. And we need to stamp out that stigma. We need to set ourselves free. We need to educate people."

Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma has always been vocal about importance of prioritizing mental well-being. "I have anxiety. And I’m treating my anxiety. I’m on medication for my anxiety. Why am I saying this? Because it’s a completely normal thing. It’s a biological problem. In my family there have been cases of depression. More and more people should talk openly about it. There is nothing shameful about it or something to hide. If you had a constant stomach pain, wouldn’t you go to the doctor? It’s that simple. I want to make this my mission, to take any shame out of this, to educate people about this," the Zero actress had said in 2017.

Karan Johar

The maverick filmmaker producer has battled clinical depression for two long years. In an interview with NDTV the filmmaker had said, "I have read people speaking openly about their depression. There was a phase in my life when I was really depressed. When I went through that phase, I thought I am getting a cardiac arrest. I felt it in the middle of a meeting two and half years ago, after which I left the meeting in between saying I have something urgent to do and rushed to the doctor. He then said I am having an anxiety attack. I went to a psychologist post that. Then I realised that I had some internal issues to deal with, which got built up to such point that it resulted in anxiety."

Shraddha Kapoor

Shraddha Kapoor too has been a victim of anxiety. The actress has battled it for three-four long years. Back in 2019, talking about suffering anxiety pangs, Shraddha had told Pinkvilla, "I didn’t even know what was anxiety. We didn’t know it for a very long time. It just after Aashiqui when I had these physical manifestations of anxiety. There’s this pain happening where there was no physiological diagnosis. We got so many tests done but there was nothing wrong with me in the doctor’s report. It’s bizarre because I kept thinking about why I was getting that pain. Then I kept asking myself why that is happening."

Yo Yo Honey Singh

Rapper-singer and musician Honey Singh has battled alcohol addiction. He had even opened up about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. “Nobody knows this, and I wanted to tell the world myself, not through a spokesperson. The last 18 months were the darkest phase of my life, and I wasn’t in a state to talk to anyone. I know there were rumours that I was in rehab, but I was in my Noida house throughout. Truth is, I was suffering from bipolar disorder. It went on for 18 months, during which I changed four doctors, the medication wasn’t working and crazy things were happening," he had told TOI.

Prateik Babbar

There was a point in Prateik Babbar's life when he was dealing with several issues like depression, addiction and heartbreak. Back in 2016, speaking about the same, Prateik had told Bombay Times, "My depression, my failed relationship and losing the person that mattered to me the most (grandmom) – it all broke me. I was at a stage where I did not love myself. Depression and anger are such a bad combo, it leads to bad decisions and obnoxious behaviour. I am cleaning up all that now. I have left that life of drugs and partying behind me. Today, I am stable and sober. Sanjay Dutt had gone through a similar patch when ‘Rocky’ released and it became a huge success. He went on a sabbatical, but he came out stronger. His fans loved him so much that they gave him another chance. I want to share my story with my fans and those who love me. I want to tell them, yes, I have made mistakes but I am here to make up for it. I have turned over a new leaf. More than anything else, I am working on myself right now. I want to love myself and love my life." Thankfully, that dreadful phase in Prateik's life is over. The actor is learning to live one day at a time.