Deepika Padukone, a leading actress and a prominent mental health advocate, made a significant impact when she shared her own experience with depression and established an organization to assist individuals facing similar challenges. During the premiere episode of Koffee With Karan Season 8, Deepika reflected on her initial struggle with depression and how her husband, Ranveer Singh, created a safe space for her to open up.
A Glimpse Into Deepika’s Journey
Deepika disclosed when she first recognized her depression. “It happened to me in 2014 when I first realized it.” The actress said that in the beginning, it takes several months for people to realise what they are going through. That’s why I came out in 2014 and shared my experience by just breaking it down and saying, ‘This is how I was feeling for a prolonged period of time.’ It’s been almost 10 years since I’ve been on medication, and it works every day,” shared Deepika.
Ranveer Singh’s Role in Supporting Deepika
Discussing how Ranveer stood by her, Deepika acknowledged, “But I think the fact that he created a safe space for me to be able to be vulnerable. Not once did he say, ‘It’s okay now. Come on.'”
Ranveer revealed that it took a considerable amount of time for him to fully understand Deepika’s ordeal. He recounted a moment when she called him after experiencing a blackout and fall in 2014. “She’s in front, she’s looking at you but she’s not all there. One day at breakfast, she was sitting across from me, just crying, and there were copious tears flowing.”
A Helpless Moment for Ranveer
At this moment I left Ranveer feeling entirely helpless. He described the situation when he asked Deepika what had happened, but she couldn’t provide an answer. “The reason I remember that vividly is because it was that moment where I felt completely helpless.”
Ranveer contacted Deepika’s parents and sister for support, as he didn’t know how to handle the situation. Deepika, who initially hid her struggles, broke down when her family was leaving. She confided in her mother, “I was just feeling helpless. I didn’t know what to know. I just felt like not living anymore. My mother then realized what I was going through and suggested me to seek professional help.”
Deepika emphasized the importance of seeking help at the right time and expressed gratitude for receiving professional assistance promptly. She said, “He was just there, extremely patient. If I can’t do certain things, which he might feel are too hard, I need to do those things to function on a daily basis.”
Deepika Padukone revealed her struggle with depression in 2015, and her foundation, Live Love Laugh, is dedicated to supporting those dealing with mental health issues. Koffee with Karan Season 8 is available on Disney+Hotstar every Thursday.
