How Bollywood Is Finally Talking About Mental Health (And Why It Matters)

For decades, Bollywood has glamorized love, tragedy, and heroism — but one topic often pushed to the sidelines was mental health. Either mocked, misunderstood, or ignored, mental illness was rarely portrayed with realism or empathy.

But over the past few years, a much-needed change has begun. Bollywood is finally starting to address mental health with sincerity, sensitivity, and strength.

Here’s how, and why it’s more important now than ever.

🎬 A Look Back: Stereotypes & Stigma

Traditionally, mental illness in Hindi cinema was:

  • Exaggerated for shock value (Tere Naam, Kyon Ki, Sadma)

  • Used as a plot twist or character flaw (Gupt, Baazigar)

  • Associated with violence or isolation (Deewangee, Darr)

Characters were either "crazy villains" or "helpless patients." Therapy, depression, anxiety — all real-life issues — were rarely explored with accuracy.

🌟 Turning Point: The Rise of Real Stories

1. Dear Zindagi (2016)

  • Alia Bhatt as Kaira seeks therapy after emotional burnout.

  • Shah Rukh Khan plays a calm, insightful therapist.

  • The film normalized seeking help and opened up public conversations.

“Don’t let your past blackmail your present to ruin a beautiful future.” — Dr. Jehangir (SRK)

2. Tamasha (2015)

  • Ranbir Kapoor’s Ved battles identity crisis and suppressed emotions.

  • Showcased the effects of emotional neglect and societal pressure.

3. Judgementall Hai Kya (2019)

  • Tackled schizophrenia with nuance, though with some controversy.

  • Brought neurodivergence to center stage, even if not perfect in execution.

4. Chhichhore (2019)

  • Explored depression and suicide in a college setting.

  • Delivered the message: Failure is not the end of life.

5. Gehraiyaan (2022)

  • Deepika Padukone’s character dealt with childhood trauma and anxiety.

  • Reflected emotional fragility, therapy, and inherited mental patterns.

🧠 Off Screen: Celebrities Opening Up

🌼 Deepika Padukone

  • Publicly shared her struggle with depression in 2015.

  • Founded LiveLoveLaugh Foundation to support mental wellness.

💬 Anushka Sharma

  • Spoke about dealing with anxiety, promoting awareness via interviews.

🗣️ Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and others

  • Shared stories about therapy and emotional stress in high-pressure careers.

These conversations helped destigmatize mental illness in Indian society.

📺 Mental Health on OTT: A Bold Leap

Streaming platforms brought even more honest portrayals:

  • Made in Heaven Season 2 – Tackled grief, trauma, therapy, and LGBTQ+ mental health.

  • Delhi Crime – Subtly showcased PTSD among cops.

  • Mismatched – Addressed anxiety and academic pressure.

These shows reach younger audiences and speak in their language — realistic, direct, and emotional.

📢 Why This Shift Matters

  • India has one of the highest youth suicide rates globally.

  • Access to therapy is still taboo in many homes.

  • Bollywood's influence can reshape how people view therapy, trauma, and healing.

By showing heroes and heroines going to therapy, breaking down, and healing — cinema is now giving audiences permission to feel, struggle, and recover.

🔮 What’s Next?

Upcoming projects are likely to go deeper:

  • Biopics on mental health warriors

  • Romance + therapy narratives

  • More realistic characters with anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and grief

We’re moving from caricatures to characters.

🧘 Final Word

Bollywood is finally using its voice to say something meaningful — that mental health is health. That it’s okay to not be okay. And that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Comments

Post a Comment