‘Bipolar? Ask me, I’ve gone through it’
Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise has put the spotlight back on mental health, as it’s being alleged that the actor was “clinically depressed and bipolar”. While it’s good that such conversations are happening, actor Shama Sikandar feels that these discussions are getting “shallow”.
“People are making a joke out of mental illness. Everyone is talking about Sushant’s mental health. But did you know him personally? I didn’t, so I can only talk about the issue,” says Sikandar, who battled depression and spoke about being a bipolar.
She is surprised how those who don’t know much about it are openly expressing their opinions. “Everyone is talking about it, but what do you know about it? Ask me, I’ve been through it,” she says, adding, “Don’t mix mental health with what you think is a murder or suicide. If Sushant is being wronged, I also want a CBI enquiry. But why speculate before investigation is done?”
Referring to the theory that Rajput didn’t leave a suicide note and that’s why a foul play is being suspected, Sikandar says, “I also didn’t when I tried to commit suicide. I told my mother I wanted to rest, went to my room, took sleeping pills and went to bed. When I didn’t wake up for hours, my family found out. I’m not saying Sushant took his life. I’m saying you don’t know how someone who’s suffering behaves.”
Urging people to not make fun of such ailments, she adds, “Hum mazak mein bolte hai, tujhe depression hai kya!? It does affect the other person. Not everyone wants or knows how to talk about it.”
She adds, “Those claiming to be Sushant’s friends, where were they when he needed them? Why is someone understood only after his death? Extend this love when the person is alive. Hope these discussions would make people more aware about such things.”