10 celebrities who faced mental health challenges and how they overcame them

Mental health doesn’t discriminate—even the biggest stars can struggle behind the spotlight. In recent years, many Bollywood celebrities have opened up about their battles with anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.

By sharing their stories, they’ve not only broken the stigma but also inspired millions to prioritize emotional wellness. These stars didn’t just fight their battles—they became a source of strength and hope for others.

Their honesty reminds us: healing is possible, and asking for help is a sign of courage—not weakness.

At the peak of her career, Deepika Padukone shocked the nation by revealing her battle with clinical depression. Despite outward success, she experienced intense emptiness, anxiety and hopelessness.

"It was the most painful thing I have gone through—not just for me, but also for my caregivers. Every day, it takes work to make sure that I don't have a relapse and slip into it again. But maybe because I have healed, I am now able to say that I'm grateful for the experience because it made me a better person. I learnt a lot from it and it gave me the ability to impact the lives of millions of other people. It allowed me to find my true calling," she told Vogue in an old interview.

With therapy, medication, and support, she emerged stronger and founded The Live Love Laugh Foundation to help others seek help.

Today, she’s not just a superstar, but a powerful mental health advocate who speaks at global platforms. Her voice continues to open doors for empathy and action.

After losing both his parents at a young age, Shah Rukh Khan internalized grief and emotional trauma for years. In several interviews, he has spoken about going through phases of deep sadness and mentioned getting immersed in work to avoid emotional breakdowns.

He turned to cinema and storytelling as therapy, pouring emotions into his characters.

Through his resilience, he reminds us that emotional wounds don’t disappear—they evolve into stories we carry forward with strength.

In a bold move, Anushka Sharma opened up about her anxiety disorder, emphasizing that mental illness is as real as physical illness. She admitted to seeking professional help and spoke out to normalize therapy.

Her transparency helped break stereotypes about mental health being a sign of weakness—especially in a fiercely competitive industry.

She continues to advocate for mental fitness and has supported various wellness initiatives through her production house.

Hrithik Roshan has battled anxiety and depression silently for years, despite his on-screen image as a superhero. He admitted feeling “lost” and “disconnected,” especially during tough phases in his personal and professional life.

Through therapy, mindfulness and physical fitness, he found balance.

Today, he actively promotes mental and physical wellness by encouraging men to be emotionally open and seek help when needed.

Ileana D’Cruz revealed her long-term struggles with body dysmorphia and severe depression at the 21st World Congress of Mental Health in New Delhi. Behind the glamour, she was battling self-image issues and panic attacks.

“Imperfections are a part of life, and one should learn to love who you are. You are a human being and are allowed to be imperfect, and you are allowed to be flawed. There is a lot of beauty in your imperfections, in your uniqueness,” shared the actress.

She eventually turned to therapy and opened up to close friends and fans.

Her vulnerability helped bring body image and mental health conversations into the mainstream, especially for young women in the public eye.

During the making of 'Badlapur,' Varun Dhawan developed symptoms of anxiety, which he at first ignored. Later, he accepted that intense roles and constant pressure took a toll on his mental health.

"I was depressed. I was not clinically declared depressed but I was heading there. I was very sad to a certain degree. I don't want to use the term 'depression' loosely because it's a serious illness. It definitely affected my mental health. I was prescribed and did see a doctor for it as well," the actor told BollySpice

With rest, therapy and lifestyle changes and support of his family, he found stability.

Varun now speaks openly about the importance of work-life balance, mental breaks and destigmatizing emotional struggles in the entertainment world.

After surviving ovarian cancer, Manisha Koirala faced depression and emotional trauma from both her illness and personal challenges.

“Impacted by cancer, I know how body and mind are intertwined. They are dependable. Even now sometimes I work in depression. Honestly speaking, when I was doing Heeramandi, it consumed me so much, my mood swings… And I was just like ‘Sail through this phase. Once this is out, focus on your health.' I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it or if my body would take it. The makers were understanding. After 12 hours of shooting, we would stop. Sanjay understood my fear and anxiety and worked on them,” shared Manisha in her 2024 interview with NDTV.

She credits therapy, spirituality, and writing with helping her recover emotionally.

Randeep Hooda admitted going through extreme phases of loneliness and emotional lows—especially when his films underperformed or he felt “invisible” in the industry.

He coped by engaging in equestrian sports and turning to deep introspection.

By sharing his story, Randeep has helped normalize emotional vulnerability among male actors, challenging the macho silence around men’s mental health.

Kangana has spoken about facing emotional abuse in early relationships and the trauma that followed. She also dealt with phases of loneliness and spiritual confusion during her rise to fame.

Through therapy, yoga and meditation, she found clarity and healing.

Despite being controversial, her candid discussions about emotional pain and mental health offered a rare glimpse of vulnerability beneath her fearless public image.

At the peak of his music career, Honey Singh disappeared from the public eye. He later revealed he was battling bipolar disorder and crippling anxiety, spending over a year in treatment.

"It was bipolar disorder. There were psychotic symptoms as well. What happens then is that your mind goes out of control. You start seeing dreams while you're awake. I would get scared even when my maid used to come thinking she'd be laughing at me, she was wiping blood off the floor, etc. It was a weird feeling. I thought I'd never be able to meet my parents again. I saw hell. I wished for death every day. I grew my hair and beard. I would just spend my days sleeping, crying, and not meeting anyone. I would stare at the moon, and how it changes every night. I used to think I must have been staring at the moon for 6-7 hours but it would only be 15 minutes. My days would not come to an end. I used to stay in a room. I used to feel that somebody was going to die. That's why there were 'paaths' being done in the house. I thought I was going to die and that's why these 'paaths' were being done in the house," he shared in his documentary.

His comeback was slow but steady—and he now uses his platform to destigmatize mental illness in the music and entertainment industry. He mentioned it took him around 5 years to come out of everything and in his journey to recovery, he underwent therapy and saw medical pofessionals. His story shows that even at rock bottom, recovery is possible and creativity can bloom again with the right support.