Bollywood megastar Deepika Padukone reveals her struggle with depression and talks about stigma

Deepika Padukone has penned an essay about struggles she’s had with anxiety and depression.

Writing in the Hindustan Times, the Bollywood star who boasts more than 25 million Facebook followers, recounts how a mental illness complicated her work on some of the biggest Indian films of recent years.

While on the set of 2014’s Happy New Year, for example, Padukone says that some days she could barely get out of bed.

“Every morning, it was a struggle to wake up,” she writes. “Finally, I had a word with Anna aunty. She flew to Mumbai from Bengaluru, and I talked my heart out to her. She concluded that I was suffering from anxiety and depression.”

Padukone confesses that she was reluctant to take medication but finally realized how serious her condition might be. She says her decision to speak publicly was made upon learning that a friend struggling with the same symptoms had committed suicide.

“There were days when I would feel okay, but at times, within a day, there was a roller-coaster of feelings. Finally, I accepted my condition. The counselling helped, but only to an extent. Then, I took medication, and today I am much better.”

“My personal experience as well as my friend’s death urged me to take up this issue, which isn’t usually talked about. There is shame and stigma attached to talking about depression. In fact, one in every four people suffer from anxiety and depression.”

Padukone also uses her essay to discuss misconceptions and a lack of awareness that some people have about mental illness.

“Being sad and being depressed are two different things,” she writes. “Also, people going through depression don’t look so, while someone sad will look sad. The most common reaction is, ‘How can you be depressed? You have everything going for you. You are the supposed number one heroine and have a plush home, car, movies… What else do you want?’ It’s not about what you have or don’t have. People talk about physical fitness, but mental health is equally important. I see people suffering, and their families feel a sense of shame about it, which doesn’t help. One needs support and understanding.”

Padukone visited Vancouver for the first time in September, appearing at the Pacific Coliseum with many cast members of Happy New Year, including the legendary Shah Rukh Khan. At the time, she told the crowd that she was impressed by the city's beauty.

Last year, Padukone also appeared in Finding Fanny, an arthouse film set in Goa that received an outstanding review from Straight film critic Itrath Syed.

Padukone became a massive Bollywood star in 2007 when she costarred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. It was directed by Farah Khan, who also directed Happy New Year.