- By Aarushi Raina
- Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Deepika Padukone has been vocal about her mental health and has advocated for awareness whenever possible. The actress recently appeared on the second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, an initiative started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the episode, she shared many stories about her battle with depression. The Jawan actress opened up about how she struggled in silence for a long time while living in Mumbai and it was her mother who noticed that something was wrong.
Deepika Padukone recalled having suicidal thoughts while battling depression and even wanting to end her life. During the episode, she said, “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 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.”
Reflecting on her tough time, Deepika revealed how her mother was the first to notice the signs and recommended to consult a psychologist. “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 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," she added.
While going through depression, Deepika has come a long way and is now enjoying her parenthood phase. Last year, she welcomed her baby girl Dua with husband Ranveer Singh.
On the work front, Deepika was last seen in Rohit Shetty's Singham Again.
