Randeep Hooda Talks about his Mental Health Struggles

“11 years out of these 23 years or so, I have not been on the set even once a year”, said Randeep Hooda in his latest interview with the official Humans of Bombay, before the release of his debut biopic on Veer Sawarkar.

Randeep Hooda is a versatile actor known for his roles in movies like Sarabjit and Highway. In the interview, he talks about his struggles before this movie and opens up about battling through depression. He talks about his financial struggles when he had no work. He had not been on set for 11 years. Sometimes, he had no money and did not know what came for him next. He almost sold everything in his house, car, microwave, etc but he never sold his horses.  He talks about Going through movies like The Battle of Saragarhi where he had grown a full Sikh beard for three years, prepped for Gatka and that movie didn’t get completed.” He states the importance of mental resilience during those tough times.

He even talks about how he was not present during the making of the extraction. He says that after struggling for so many years he was grateful for his in-house production of Swatantra Veer Savarkar. This epic drama is certainly a breakthrough for his career!

Importance of  celebrities speaking  about their struggles with mental health:

People who are well-known in the industry must share their struggles with mental health. This can help reduce the stigma and taboo around mental health. Moreover, people get to the flip side of the industry where glamour and paparazzi are not everything. It creates empathy and a sense of compassion rather than judgments.  It gives courage to other people who are struggling with the same by letting them know that they are not alone. 

Related: How Celebrities are Shaping the Global Mental Health Dialogue

As more and more people open up about their struggles, the “discussion” about one’s mental health will not remain a taboo!  It will help people understand that mental health is as important as physical health and that it is an act of courage rather than shame to accept it and reach out for help.