Imran Khan is one of the few Bollywood actors who have openly addressed mental health issues. On World Mental Health Day, the actor candidly shared that his 20s were marked by emotional struggles. Fortunately, his family never stigmatized mental health concerns, which encouraged him to seek professional help. Imran revealed that he has been undergoing therapy for the past eight years and is now in a much better place.
The actor’s career took off with his successful debut in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, produced by his uncle Aamir Khan. However, while he was enjoying professional success, he was privately dealing with anxiety. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Imran opened up about his personal battles, noting how different attitudes towards mental health were a decade ago compared to today.
“People, in general, didn’t have an attitude of acceptance. Today’s generation has embraced the idea of mental health care. Their sympathy is mind-blowing,” he shared, reflecting on the positive shift in how mental health is perceived.
Despite the broader lack of awareness at the time, Imran was fortunate to have a supportive family. His mother, a practicing psychoanalyst, helped foster an understanding of mental health in their home, which eventually led him to seek therapy. During his sessions, he was diagnosed with depression.
When asked about his current state of mind, the Break Ke Baad actor said, “Happiness is a strange word because you cannot always be happy. Rather, the question is, do you feel like getting out of bed in the morning and doing stuff? If not, you are in a state of actual collapse.”
Now, after a long hiatus from acting and years of therapy, Imran feels significantly better, a stark contrast to his mental state in his 20s. “In that way, I am in a place that is healthier. Since my early 20s, I had not been in a healthy space, emotionally or psychologically,” he admitted. Over the past year, he has been increasingly vocal about his experiences with mental health, using interviews as a platform to raise awareness.
Having last appeared in the 2015 film Katti Batti, Imran Khan is set to return to Bollywood after a nine-year hiatus, marking a major milestone in his career. According to Peepingmoon.com, the actor is starting a new chapter with the support of his maternal uncle and mentor, Aamir Khan. Aamir was instrumental in launching Imran’s career, first as a child actor in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988 and later as a leading man in Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na in 2008.
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