- Deepika Padukone appointed as India’s first Mental Health Ambassador by the Health Ministry.
- She was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2014, describing it as her “most painful phase.”
- Ranveer Singh supported her through blackouts and anxiety, creating a “safe space.”
- Her Live Love Laugh Foundation leads awareness and outreach across India.
Deepika integrates science and tradition—therapy, yoga, and meditation—to promote holistic well-being.Deepika Padukone’s journey from battling depression and heartbreak to becoming India’s first Mental Health Ambassador reflects resilience, empathy, and advocacy. Her openness has transformed the nation’s conversation around emotional well-being and inspired millions to seek help without shame.
Deepika Padukone: India’s first Mental Health Ambassador
In a landmark move, the Government of India appointed Deepika Padukone as the country’s first Mental Health Ambassador, recognizing her as a powerful voice for emotional well-being. Known for her courage in opening up about her battle with depression, Deepika has spent nearly a decade advocating mental health awareness through her foundation, Live Love Laugh, established in 2015.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda praised her appointment, stating that her visibility and compassion would “normalize mental health conversations, dispel stigma, and promote mental health as a vital part of public health.” Deepika’s role includes collaborating with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to strengthen outreach programs like Tele MANAS, ensuring equitable access to care, especially in rural areas. Her vision goes beyond clinical solutions — she advocates a holistic approach combining modern therapy with India’s cultural practices of yoga and mindfulness.
“It was the most painful thing”: Deepika’s battle with depression
Deepika’s tryst with depression began in 2014, during the peak of her success. Despite her professional high, she experienced an overwhelming sense of emptiness, blackouts, and anxiety. In an emotional revelation, she told NDTV, “It was the most painful thing.”
That same year, Deepika was diagnosed with clinical depression, a moment that reshaped her life and priorities. She started therapy and medication, acknowledging that recovery requires consistent work: “Living well requires continuous effort.” Her openness marked a defining moment in Bollywood, shattering silence around mental illness in a society where such struggles were often hidden.
“He created a safe space”: Ranveer Singh’s unwavering support
In her Koffee With Karan Season 8 appearance (October 2023), Deepika credited her husband, Ranveer Singh, for standing by her through the darkest phase. She recalled, “He created a safe space for me to be vulnerable, to communicate, because a lot of the time you are just feeling so many things and you don’t know how to communicate.”
Ranveer, she said, never tried to distract her with outings or jokes but chose to simply listen. She remembered a frightening blackout episode in 2014, when he rushed to her side, realizing how grave her condition was: she was “there but not really there.” Ranveer confessed on the same show that he often felt helpless watching her cry, saying, “I felt completely helpless.”
From heartbreak to healing: How love and loss shaped her journey
Before Ranveer, Deepika’s much-publicized breakup with Ranbir Kapoor had taken a heavy toll on her emotionally. While she rarely connects that directly to her mental health diagnosis, she has acknowledged that the heartbreak left her vulnerable and introspective. On Koffee With Karan, she reflected that personal relationships deeply affect mental well-being and that finding a “safe emotional space” was essential to her recovery. Her eventual partnership with Ranveer became not just romantic but profoundly healing.
“A journey we must walk together”
Through Live Love Laugh, Deepika continues to champion empathy and access in mental healthcare. Her foundation conducts awareness programs for students and frontline workers while advocating for better mental health policies.
In her words, “I’m deeply honored to be a voice for mental health in India. Mental health is still surrounded by stigma and silence, but opening up about my journey has shown me how many people struggle silently. From breaking the silence to seeking help, it’s a journey we must walk together.”
