Deepika Padukone opens up about her battle with depression: 'Mujhe Jeena Hi Nahi Hai'

• Padukone emphasizes that depression is invisible and that others may also experience it.
• Padukone's mother recognized her struggle and called a psychologist.
• She encourages everyone to talk about their mental health issues.

Deepika Padukone has always been vocal about her struggle with depression. She actively spreads awareness about mental health and runs the Live Love Laugh Foundation to help those in need. Recently, Deepika opened up about her journey on an episode of “Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025”. The actress recalled telling her mother that she no longer wanted to live.

During the “Pariksha Pe Charcha” session, which streams on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel, Deepika Padukone shared the moment she realized she had depression. She explained that after school, she got busy with sports, then modeling, and later acting. The actress recalled continuing to work until, in 2014, she passed out. She revealed that she discovered she had depression a few days later.

Deepika mentioned that depression is something invisible. She explained that people around us might be going through it, yet they still wear a smile on their faces.

Deepika Padukone further revealed that “she didn’t share her condition with anyone for a long time because she used to live alone in Mumbai. The Singham Again star shared that her mother visited her, and the day she was returning to Bengaluru, she broke down.”

Her mother questioned her about what happened, and Deepika disclosed that she responded, “I don’t know what this is. I’m just feeling completely helpless and hopeless. Mujhe jeena hi nahi hai ab (I don’t want to live anymore).”

She called herself ‘lucky’ because her mother recognized her struggle and decided to call a psychologist. Deepika concluded by encouraging everyone to talk about their mental health issues, as it helped ease the burden.

On February 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Deepika Padukone’s passion for mental health. On his Instagram Story, he wrote, “Among the most common topics #Exam Warriors want to discuss is mental health and wellbeing. Therefore, this year's “Pariksha Pe Charcha” will feature an episode especially dedicated to this topic, which will air tomorrow, 12th February."

The PM added, “And we have @deepikapadukone, who is very passionate about this subject, talking about it.”

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