Deepika Padukone recalls how her mother helped in her battle with depression: ‘Mujhe jeena hi nahi hai’

Deepika Padukone recently featured in the newest episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, a program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote awareness about mental health. The actress shared insights into her struggle with depression and disclosed how she managed to conquer it.

During the episode, Deepika recalled how she often felt suicidal and wanted to end her life. 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.”

The actress revealed that she kept her emotions to herself for an extended period and resided alone in Mumbai. She subsequently disclosed that her mother identified the signs and offered her support during a period when mental health was greatly stigmatized in society.

She said, “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.”

Deepika has been a strong advocate for mental health awareness through her Live Love Laugh Foundation. Apart from sharing her personal experience with mental illness, she also gave children tips on battling depression.