‘I WOULDN’T HAVE SURVIVED IF NOT FOR MY GRIT’

Her mental health Payal Ghosh opens up about challenges and how she overcame them

AI’m grateful to have been guided on the right path at the right time by my counsellor. PAYAL GHOSH, Actor

ctor Payal Ghosh, known for her work in South, as well as in the Hindi film industry, feels mental health is still the most undervalued issue in society.

“Mental health is often neglected and many are caught unawares when depression strikes silently. I, too, was taken by surprise by the sudden changes happening in me. And soon, I was in a very critical mental condition and had to fight for life. If it hadn’t been for my family and my own grit, I wouldn’t have survived the years of battle. A bout of depression is a very slippery slope and can become extremely dangerous. I’m grateful to have been guided on the right path at the right time by my counsellor and family. Today, I’m on my way to putting that phase behind me,” says the Patel ki Punjabi Shaadi (2017) actor.

Ghosh believes it’s a lonely battle as people don’t understand the pain of mental health: “People simply tag it as ‘insanity’. No one tries to understand the reasons for it. Having been there, I want to take up the job and spread as much awareness as I can. Except your near ones, no one is there with you, supporting you, and you are all alone, fending for yourself and trying to survive. It was in 2020 that I decided to talk about it and take the situation head on. Since then, I feel confident.”

The Prayanam (2009) actor says she treated herself with care and attention. “I was determined to give up antidepressants for good. I am reverting to more traditional methods like yoga. My work as an artist helps me to keep going.”

Currently, the 32-year-old is wrapping film projects and feels happy to be back on the job: “My next film will be with actor Krushna Abhishek, followed by another... So much is happening, along with stage shows.”