Mahira Khan candidly shared her experience of confronting anxiety and depression, which were triggered by the threats and criticism she encountered around the time of Raees’ release.
Mahira Khan has bravely discussed her mental health journey, revealing that she was diagnosed with manic depression by a psychiatrist. The Pakistani actress shared her experiences in a recent interview with the FWhy Podcast. She touched upon the challenges she faced after entering Bollywood with the film “Raees,” as well as the incident in 2017 when photos of her smoking with actor Ranbir Kapoor surfaced online.
Addressing the aftermath of the 2016 Uri attack, Mahira Khan shed light on the challenges she encountered as a Pakistani actor during that time. She recounted her experience with the release of the film “Raees” and the political tension between India and Pakistan. Mahira revealed that while she wasn’t scared, she did receive threatening messages and calls, highlighting the volatile nature of the situation. She expressed her hope that the film would still be released in Pakistan, as Shah Rukh Khan, who starred in the film, was widely adored in her country.
In 2017, the year of “Raees” release, Mahira Khan found herself entangled in a smoking pictures controversy with Ranbir Kapoor, an unexpected turn of events that led to a significant backlash. The repercussions of this ordeal took a toll on her mental well-being, unraveling feelings of anxiety and depression that had been hidden within her.
Mahira shared that the intense criticism she faced triggered her anxiety and pushed her into a state of depression that she hadn’t anticipated. The constant stream of negative comments and hurtful messages, particularly on Indian channels and social media platforms, shattered her confidence. During this challenging period, her faith wavered, and she was confronted with severe anxiety. The stress reached a point where she experienced a panic attack and fainted, which prompted her to seek therapy for the first time.
Although she embarked on a journey of therapy, Mahira’s battle with her mental health persisted. She revealed that she has been relying on antidepressants for the past 6-7 years. She attempted to discontinue the medication at one point but found herself descending into a dark and overwhelming state. Mahira disclosed that this is the first time she’s opening up about her prolonged use of medication.
In her pursuit of healing, Mahira shared that she has made multiple visits to hospitals in search of assistance. She emphasized that while everyone experiences ups and downs, clinical depression is akin to any other mental or physical illness. Her candid revelation sheds light on the importance of acknowledging and addressing mental health struggles and the journey toward recovery.
