Vijayendra Kumeria: It’s sad that in our country depression is not taken seriously and reaching for help is a taboo. It is a serious issue but if we talk about actors, it is very difficult for people to even get a clue what an actor or any celebrity is going through in his or her life. Actors are very secretive about their inner feeling as people are ready to make breaking news about anything and everything, be it personal or professional. In our industry we know thousands of people but finding real friends here is very difficult. Everyone talks about supporting their colleagues, but in reality everybody is busy in their own life making their own careers, having no time for others… The sad truth is some people don’t want to work with a person if they get a slightest clue that he/she is dealing with depression, so that their project doesn’t suffer or sustain in this very competitive industry. It is inevitably important that as an individual, one takes care of his own mental health and opens up to his near and dear ones and talks about his or her feelings. We must understand that mental health is very important and there is nothing wrong if we go to a counselor.
Aniruddh Dave: In our industry there are different types of people with different perspective and if someone is going through depression or down fall, I haven’t seen any one standing for them, this is the bitter truth of the industry. The one who is going through depression only will understand how dark it is. Our field is full of darkness, even I have faced financial crunches but my family and friends supported me and I still haven’t forgotten that. I always believe this too shall pass. When people try to share their inside pain with you, we think this person is so negative and we try to cut contact with them. If you think someone is going through this phase then talk to them until you get to know why he is depressed.
Avinash Mukherjee: Yes everybody feels low from time to time in personal and professional life because that’s the part of life. Pain, happiness, sorrow, grieve, joy, gratitude, regret, anger, attitude, revenge these are very normal human emotion but I believe pain comes from the exception of future and if it doesn’t happen the way you wanted it to be, your mind goes off. Focus on positivity and remove negativity from your future also I would suggest taking care of five closest people around you. Make sure you talk to them every day just ask them how are you and wait till they say how they actually are and that will really mean a lot for that person. Lastly your parents love you a lot and you owe your life to your parents.
Amit Sarin: We are what we think and not who we think we are. Our thoughts emanate a certain feeling which leads to emotions. Thoughts are very powerful and if we allow it to be negative then, it leads to adverse behavioural, psychological and health outcomes. Think positive, see positive and be positive, it seems like a small statement but I can speak for myself that it is very powerful. Being an actor and going through countless rejections – this was the only mantra that kept me going. Just like having a healthy body, mental health/ wellness should be normal and treated or dealt with accordingly.
Arun Mandola: We learnt in school that when health is gone everything is gone but still these days very few people focus on mental health. Depression is very common these days. The biggest reason we feel ashamed of talking about our problems because if not shared to the right person, you will be in a big trouble. Yes it’s true that glamour field is glittery and dark and challenging from inside but the truth is every human feels insecure, low and sometimes depressed. Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide has shocked everyone including me. I don’t have words for this disaster. God had given him a big opportunity and he did a good job. He was everyone’s favorite and people loved him very much but the biggest loss is for his family. I can understand what they are going through.
Kettan Singh: Everyone goes through depression, it may be for personal or professional reason, but society makes it a social stigma by saying that he is mad or psycho. Glamour industry or any other industry, they all have a dark side. People who come to this industry by seeing the glamorous side of it, they do wrong instead of that they should concentrate on their passion. If you come in this industry just for the glamour and glitter you will see the dark side very soon, but if you are here for your passion then you won’t have to deal with the dark side ever, your work will actually speak for you. Life is generally unpredictable whether you are an actor or anything. Right now everyone’s mental health is disturbed not only of actors but everyone’s. Think about migrants who are not getting food, their frustration level increased so much that they walked to their cities. Farmers who commit suicide also go through mental health issues; it shouldn’t be taken for granted in any case.
Vikas Sethi: Life is a gift. A precious gift. Owning up to depression, anxiety or any mental illness has a stigma attached to it. But we need to bring about the change. We need to reach out and seek help. We have all been there in the dark night of our soul – just us as humans – not as actors. I have experienced it myself. And it’s really difficult, I understand. We need to lift ourselves up and find a mental balance. It’s perfectly okay to speak up and share.
