In the dazzling world of Bollywood, where stars shine bright under the spotlight, there lies a shadow cast by the industry’s relentless demands and intense pressures. Beyond the glitz and glamour, the entertainment hub of India harbors a silent struggle – the toll it takes on the mental health of its artists.
Amidst the allure of fame and fortune, the reality of navigating the competitive landscape of Bollywood can be taxing, both emotionally and psychologically. From the relentless scrutiny of the media to the constant pressure to deliver box office hits, actors, directors, and producers face a myriad of challenges that often go unseen.
According to WHO’s the estimates were between 2005-2015, there has been an 18 per cent increase in people dealing with depression that is approximately 300 million people. Even if you are poor in math you will realise that it’s a huge number in itself. Mental health illness affects all of us to a small or great extent. Here are 5 male celebrities who battled mental disorders as June is the “Men’s Mental Health Awareness” Month.
Amitabh Bachchan, a legendary actor, has also suffered from depression. The actor who also became a producer in 1996 with his firm ABCL. As a result of his films’ consecutive failures, Amitabh got bankrupt and suffered a profound despair. However, the celebrity regained control of himself and resurrected his acting career, becoming one of the greatest performers of all time.
Sanjay Dutt has faced more challenges than most other Bollywood stars. After losing his mother and wife to cancer, and then being accused of involvement in the 1993 Mumbai explosions, he said that his imprisonment caused him to become depressed. It was stated that the actor couldn’t sleep. However, the actor persevered and blossomed as the rockstar he is today.
Shah Rukh Khan suffered from depression following his shoulder surgery in 2010. This is what he stated when the combat was ended. The actor stated, “Due to the shoulder injury and the agony, I had fallen into a depression, but I am now out of it. I feel cheerful and energized.” King Khan had also stated, “I feel so much healthy and refreshed from within.”
In an interview, popular filmmaker Karan Johar spoke up about his battle with depression. He had a lot of unresolved issues to cope with, and he publicly aired them so that others in similar situations may go forward with their lives. “There was a time in my life when I was really depressed. When I went through that period, I feared I was going to have a heart attack. I felt it in the middle of a conference two and a half years ago, so I excused myself and raced to the doctor. He then stated that I am experiencing an anxiety attack. I went to see a psychologist after that.Â
Then I understood I had some internal difficulties to deal with, which had accumulated to the point that it caused concern.” He further stated, “Those sessions (medication) made a significant difference for me.” During those sessions, we discussed numerous aspects of my life. I felt like I hadn’t really dealt with my father’s death, even though it had been 11 or 12 years. I was still carrying the anguish and hurt of some relationships that had faded from my life. And the worry of the future, that I will be unable to find a life mate.At one time, I was quite bothered by the absence of affection in my life. Today, I feel much more free of it. I believe there are many more things to look forward to.
Actor Hrithik Roshan wants people to know that mental diseases are not to be stigmatized; they are a serious issue that people need to address. He responded, “I have had my ups and downs. I’ve suffered depression and disorientation. It’s a typical occurrence, and we should be quite casual when discussing it. I have had problems in my life. We all have ups and downs in our lives.Ups and downs are vital because they help us grow. When going through a bad period, it is critical to maintain clarity of thinking. Sometimes your brain takes over and feeds you unpleasant notions. Feeds you with notions that are not in line with what you want to achieve in life, and that is when you need an objective point of view or a third person to look at you and inform you that this is what has happened because you have lost consciousness at that moment.”
